Atlanta’s Olympic-era transformation is heading to the screen in a major new documentary executive produced by Atlanta rap legend Big Boi. Titled Atlanta 1996: We Ran The City, the project has officially been greenlit and will be directed by Jami McCoy. Rather than focusing solely on the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, the documentary aims to tell the broader story of how Atlanta evolved into a global cultural powerhouse during one of the city’s most defining moments.

The film will examine the intersection of Southern hip-hop, Black entrepreneurship, and political influence as Atlanta stepped into the international spotlight. During that period, the rise of the Dungeon Family, alongside the growing influence of LaFace Records and the emergence of the “Dirty South” sound, helped reshape hip-hop culture worldwide. While tourists packed Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta’s local music and creative scenes were rapidly redefining the city’s identity.

But the documentary will also take a deeper look at the consequences tied to the Olympics’ arrival. Through interviews with community leaders, athletes, and music figures, the film plans to explore the displacement of longtime residents and the economic impact on historically Black neighborhoods. Political figures including former Atlanta mayors Bill Campbell and Kasim Reed are expected to be highlighted, along with stories involving law enforcement, underground economies, and community power structures. Historian Maurice Hobson will provide historical context throughout the project.

Behind the scenes, McCoy also serves as an executive producer alongside Big Boi and Robert Slocum, while Shauna D. Balfour joins the team as casting producer. The documentary is expected to arrive in 2026, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Summer Olympics. The creative team is also developing a companion limited scripted series titled 96, expanding the story of Atlanta’s Olympic-era evolution into a larger narrative universe.