LeBron James' SpringHill Entertainment producing Muhammad Ali documentary on HBO

The first feature-length production on HBO from NBA superstar LeBron James’ company, SpringHill Entertainment, will be a big one.

SpringHill, along with director Antoine Fuqua, is producing an as-yet-to-be-named documentary on the life and times of legendary former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. It has begun production and will air in documentary format on HBO, though the date has not been specified.

James called the work “extremely important” and said it was an honor to be part of it.

“It’s tough to put into words how much it means to me to be a part of this project honoring the legacy and telling the extremely important story of the great Muhammad Ali,” James said in a statement. “He transcended sports and used his platform to empower people, which paved the way for all athletes and people of every race and gender that came after him, myself included. It’s important that his story continues to be told for generations to come, and it’s an honor for SpringHill Entertainment and me to be a part of this.”

The film will use not only archival footage but also cinematic recreations to tell the story of Ali’s rise to prominence. It will include never-before-seen photos and footage from the private collection of the Ali family, as well as others.

Ali, who died on June 3, was an iconic figure world-wide who at one point was the most recognizable man on Earth. His impact extended well beyond sports.

“This documentary will have national and global appeal,” Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, said. “I’m hopeful this documentary will engage the audience in a similar way Muhammad engaged his audience and fans. Without a doubt, Muhammad’s life journey provides simple yet extraordinary lessons for all of us, with perhaps the most important one being to see and embrace the humanity in all people.”