Charles Murray, Carmelo Anthony & A+E Studios Developing Muhammad Ali & Malcolm X Limited Series

Deadline is reporting that A+E Studios has put in development Blood Brothers (working title), an eight-episode limited series based on the praised 2016 non-fiction book Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X by historians Johnny Smith and Randy Roberts. The project hails from writer-producer Charles Murray (Luke Cage, Roots), NBA star Carmelo Anthony (Universe, The Legend of Swee’ Pea) and Narrative Film Group.

Written by Murray, Blood Brothers is described as a unique examination of the friendship between two of our generation’s most prominent Black figures: Muhammad Ali, the future heavyweight champion of the world, and Malcolm X, the controversial public voice of the Nation of Islam. Beginning with Ali’s (then known as Cassius Clay) initial meeting and eventual bond with Malcolm X, the series will explore their personal lives and instantaneous friendship, as well as the relationship’s eventual demise due to America’s socio-political tensions and divisiveness within the Nation of Islam.

Blood Brothers is an A+E Studios production. Murray serves as  executive producer and showrunner through Raising Kane Films. Shelby Stone (The Chi, Bessie) and Derek Dudley (The Chi, Meet the Blacks) executive produce through Narrative Film Group, along with Anthony and Asani Swann’s (Universe, Carmelo Anthony: Made in New York) via Creative 7. Johnny Smith and Randy Roberts serve as consulting producers.

“From the moment I read the book Blood Brothers, I wanted nothing more than to tell the story of these two legendary figures,” said Murray. “It’s my plan to reach out to members of both families to create the most well-rounded show I can and it’s my hope that the final product gives the audience insight that they hadn’t had.”

The project reunites Murray and A+E Studios’ Jamieson.