Mahershala Ali to play boxing legend Jack Johnson in HBO limited series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Mahershala Ali (True Detective) is slated to play boxing legend Jack Johnson in Unruly, a six-part limited series which is in development at HBO. The project is based upon the PBS documentary Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, which was produced and directed by Ken Burns, as well as its companion book by Geoffrey C. Ward. Dominique Morisseau (Shameless) is set to pen the series.

Unruly is being described as "an unapologetically Black, no-holds-barred telling of Jack Johnson, the world’s first Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion. This bold exploration depicts the champion’s rise to athletic greatness and the costs he paid for his skin and defiance, which created a blueprint for Black resistance in every justice movement for generations to come." Johnson was also known as the "Galveston Giant" and his 1910 fight against James J. Jeffries was dubbed the "fight of the century." Mahershala Ali has long stated that playing Johnson is his dream role, and the actor previously played the boxer in a stage production of The Great White Hope twenty years ago. In addition to starring in the series, Ali will also serve as executive producer alongside Karim Ali, Mimi Valdés, Dominique Morisseau, Gary Goetzman, Ken Burns, and Tom Hanks.

In addition to Unruly, Mahershala Ali has one rather sizeable project on his slate as he's set to take on the role of Blade, the half-human/half-vampire badass, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The vampire hunter was previously played by Wesley Snipes in BLADE, BLADE II, and BLADE TRINITY, who seems more than okay with Ali taking on his role. "To all the DAYWALKERS losing their minds right now, chillaaxx," Snipes wrote in a statement. "Although the news comes as a surprise, it’s ALL GOOD. Such is the ‘business’ of ‘entertainment!’ Much peace to the MCU crew – always a fan. Honor and respect to the grandmaster Stan. Congratulations and Salaam to Mahershala Ali, a beautiful and talented artist whose expressions I look forward to experiencing for many years to come. Inshallah, we will someday work together. Most importantly to my loyal fans, the incredible outpouring of love is overwhelming. I am grateful for the never-ending support. So, ‘nah fret nah worry, it’s not de end of de story.’ Welcome to the Daywalker Klique." Ali is also slated to star in SWAN SONG for Apple TV, which is set in the near future and explores how far someone will go, and how much they’ll sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people they love.