Kevin Hart Hustles His Way Into Atlanta’s Elite In ‘Fight Night’ Trailer
Peacock has released the official trailer for the Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist limited series. Starring Kevin Hart in the leading role, the drama is based on the true story of how Atlanta came to evolve into the “Black Mecca” it is still recognized as today. Also starring Taraji P. Henson and Don Cheadle, with Chloe Bailey, Lori Harvey, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and more, the series premieres on the streamer on Sept. 5.
Fight Night is based on the acclaimed iHeart true-crime podcast of the same name. The series explores the real-life events that occurred in the Georgia capital on October 26, 1970. Will Packer is the producer of the podcast and executive producer of the series.
Hart plays Chicken Man, a hustler hoping to make it big among elite Black mafia members, gangsters, and authority figures not only in Georgia, but across the country. He hosts an afterparty to celebrate the historic fight between Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry, Ali’s comeback after being banned for refusing to be drafted into the military.
The party does not go well, however. Attendees were robbed in what is described as the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history, with Chicken Man suspected of orchestrating the entire ordeal. He then must work to prove his innocence as law enforcement aims to bring justice to the victims.
Detective J.D. Hudson, played by Cheadle, must also face the complicated nature of investigating the heist, as some of the victims are also criminals.
The official podcast that inspired the series consists of over 10 episodes and was first broadcast in 2020, providing its official storyline:
“On October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali triumphantly returned to the world of boxing in Atlanta, Georgia. But every national front-page headline the next morning featured the story of one of the biggest heists in history. At the center of it all – a hustler named ‘Chicken Man.’ Fans arrived in Rolls Royces delivered from New York City. Adorned in vibrant fur coats and dripping with diamonds, they grabbed engraved invitations then strutted into the arena. The sold-out crowd stood and cheered when the first-round bell rang, minus two empty seats. After the fight, many celebrating the victory, including top black mafia leaders, headed to Chicken Man’s house with invitation in hand. Instead of women and wine greeting them at the front door, each walked into the barrel of a sawed-off shotgun. On FIGHT NIGHT, J.D. Hudson, one of the first black detectives in Atlanta’s desegregated police force helped lead Muhammed Ali into the ring. The next day, he was assigned to the robbery by the chief of police. When asked by a journalist years later, ‘When did the investigation end?’ J.D. summed it up perfectly, ‘When everybody was dead.’”
Shaye Ogbonna serves as creator and showrunner alongside Jason Horwitch. Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, Packer, and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts, Jeff Keating and Lars Jacobson executive produce alongside Hart and Packer.
Watch the trailer for Fight Night above.
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