David Farnor | On 23, Jul 2021

Netflix will tell the story of the friendship between two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century this September: Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, and Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam’s – and Black America’s – most incendiary and charismatic leader.

This was the unlikeliest of friendships – the brash Olympic Champion who spoke in verse to the amusement of the white press and the ex-con intellectual-turned-revolutionary who railed against the evils of white oppression and dismissed sports as a triviality. But their bond was deep, their friendship real. The documentary Blood Brothers charts the extraordinary and tragic story of their relationship – and a new trailer gives us a first glimpse of the film. You can see the whole thing when it premieres worldwide on 8th September.

 

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £8.99 monthly subscription.

 

Netflix orders Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

23rd July 2021

Netflix is shining a light on the bond between Malcom X and Muhammad Ali with new documentary Blood Brothers.

The documentary feature is inspired by the book Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith. Directed by Marcus A Clarke (Unsolved Mysteries, Rapture), the film aims to be the definitive documentary about the legendary icons, with never-before-seen archival footage.

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali tells the extraordinary story behind the friendship of two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century: Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Few people understand the bond these men shared. The charismatic and outspoken Olympic champion who charmed the nation, and the ex con-turned-intellectual revolutionary who railed against the evils of white oppression by speaking truth to power. The message they carry, still as potent and relevant today as ever before. Their bond was undoubtedly deep, their friendship real and their legacies inextricably bound.

Clarke says: “Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali are two of the most iconic and revered African Americans of the twentieth century, and yet the depths of their friendship and the influence they had on each other is largely unknown. Blood Brothers provides a deeper understanding into what made these two men tick, the intense role faith played in their bond and ultimately how their budding friendship came to an abrupt end.”

The film is produced by Kenya Barris for Khalabo Ink Society and Jason Perez, and exec-produced by Erynn Sampson for Khalabo Ink Society, Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn for Lightbox, and Simon George.

Clarke directed three of six installments of Netflix’s documentary series Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 1, as well as three episodes of the Netflix docuseries Rapture. Lightbox previously produced Netflix’s documentary series Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, documentary feature Tell Me Who I Am, and documentary series Diagnosis, in partnership with the New York Times.

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali will debut on Netflix on 9th September.

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