Editing Ali (film) (section)

==Production==
The project began in 1992 when producer [[Paul Ardaji]] optioned the movie rights to Muhammad Ali's life story. In 1992, Ardaji visited Ali on his 50th birthday and persuaded him to allow a film to be made about his life.<ref name=la>{{cite web| url=https://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/09/entertainment/ca-goldstein9/3| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819002139/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/09/entertainment/ca-goldstein9/3| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 19, 2016| title=A Fight That Went the Full 15 Rounds| date=December 9, 2001| author=Patrick Goldstein| work=Los Angeles Times| access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref> Nearing the end of his option period, Ardaji signed a contract with [[Sony Pictures]], joining forces with producer [[Jon Peters]] as producing partner. Producer [[Jon Peters]] started developing the film in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/peters-semel-team-rumored-116252/|title=Peters-Semel team rumored|work=Variety|date=1993-12-01|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220061649/http://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/peters-semel-team-rumored-116252/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gregory Allen Howard]] wrote the initial draft of the script, which had the working title ''Power and Grace''. Howard's draft focused on Ali's life from 12 to 40 years old, and his relationship with his father.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brad Schreiber|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/fusing-fact-and-fiction-for-art-s-sake-1117861006/|title=Fusing fact and fiction for art's sake|work=Variety|date=2002-02-19|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220061630/http://variety.com/2002/film/awards/fusing-fact-and-fiction-for-art-s-sake-1117861006/|url-status=live}}</ref> Howard was replaced by writers Stephen J. Rivele and [[Christopher Wilkinson|Chris Wilkinson]], and by 1998 the biopic was set up at [[Columbia Pictures]], with Will Smith attached to star and the possibility of [[Ron Howard]] directing.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff|title=McConaughey sees 'Evel'; Horner tune$ in|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/mcconaughey-sees-evel-horner-tune-in-1117469150|work=Variety|date=1998-03-25|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073209/http://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/mcconaughey-sees-evel-horner-tune-in-1117469150/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the filming of ''[[Wild Wild West]]'', Smith presented director [[Barry Sonnenfeld]] with the script. Columbia was hoping for filming to start towards the end of 1998,<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/sonnenfeld-smith-might-team-again-on-ali-biopic-1117479505|title=Sonnenfeld, Smith might team again on Ali biopic|work=Variety|date=1998-08-14|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073203/http://variety.com/1998/film/news/sonnenfeld-smith-might-team-again-on-ali-biopic-1117479505/|url-status=live}}</ref> but it was pushed back, and Sonnenfeld exited in November 1999. It was speculated that Columbia was hesitant to move forward with Sonnenfeld following the disappointing box office performance of ''Wild Wild West''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|title=Parkerperks 'Women'; Gere turns on Fawcett|url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/parkerperks-women-gere-turns-on-fawcett-1117756626|work=Variety|date=1999-10-14|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073252/http://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/parkerperks-women-gere-turns-on-fawcett-1117756626/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2000, it was announced that [[Michael Mann]] had taken over as director, following his Academy Award nomination for ''[[The Insider (film)|The Insider]]''. Prior to Mann's involvement, [[Spike Lee]] had been in negotiations to direct the film, feeling that only a black man could do justice to Ali's story.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/mar/09/news.spikelee|title=Spike Lee protests Ali decision|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=March 9, 2000|access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref> Smith, however, preferred Mann, who turned down the opportunity to direct early versions of ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]'', ''[[Shooter (2007 film)|Shooter]]'' and ''[[Savages (2012 film)|Savages]]'' to commit to ''Ali'',<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/mann-handling-ali-pic-1117776671|title=Mann handling Ali pic|work=Variety|date=2000-02-22|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073213/http://variety.com/2000/film/news/mann-handling-ali-pic-1117776671/|url-status=live}}</ref> and brought [[Eric Roth]] on to co-write the script.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2000/voices/columns/for-roth-it-s-potter-or-planet-1117783987|title=For Roth, it's 'Potter' or 'Planet'?|work=Variety|date=2000-07-20|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073159/http://variety.com/2000/voices/columns/for-roth-it-s-potter-or-planet-1117783987/|url-status=live}}</ref> After years of being attached to the Ali biopic, Smith officially signed on in May 2000 with a $20 million salary.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/allen-may-be-in-big-trouble-smith-s-ali-1117781696|title=Allen may be in 'Big Trouble'; Smith's Ali|work=Variety|date=2000-05-16|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073243/http://variety.com/2000/film/news/allen-may-be-in-big-trouble-smith-s-ali-1117781696/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Filming began in Los Angeles on January 11, 2001, on a $105 million budget. Shooting also took place in New York City, Chicago, Miami and Mozambique.<ref>{{cite news|author=Cathy Dunkley|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/ieg-punches-up-ali-deal-1117798841|title=IEG punches up 'Ali' deal|work=Variety|date=2001-05-08|access-date=2014-10-14|archive-date=2014-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073240/http://variety.com/2001/film/news/ieg-punches-up-ali-deal-1117798841/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Smith spent about one year learning about Ali's life. These included boxing training (up to seven hours a day), Islamic studies with Wiljah Akbar, and dialect training. Smith has said that his portrayal of Ali is his proudest work to date.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

One of the selling points of the film is the realism of the fight scenes. Smith worked alongside boxing promoter Guy Sharpe from SharpeShooter Entertainment, and his lead fighter Ross Kent, to get the majority of his boxing tips for the film. All of the boxers in the film are former or current world heavyweight championship-caliber boxers. It was quickly decided that 'Hollywood fighting'—passing the fist (or foot) between the camera and the face to create the illusion of a hit—would not be used in favor of actual boxing. The only limitation placed upon the fighters was for Charles Shufford (who plays [[George Foreman]]). He was permitted to hit Smith as hard as he could, so long as he did not actually knock the actor out.

Smith had to gain weight to look the part of Muhammad Ali.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/movies/the-new-season-film-michael-mann-and-will-smith-in-the-ring-with-ali.html | work=New York Times | title=THE NEW SEASON/FILM; Michael Mann and Will Smith in the Ring With Ali | date=2001-09-09 | access-date=2012-03-10 | first1=Allen | last1=Barra | archive-date=2020-03-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301133240/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/movies/the-new-season-film-michael-mann-and-will-smith-in-the-ring-with-ali.html | url-status=live }}</ref>