The project, entitled “Five Rings Films”, is a five-episode series of incisive and entertaining documentaries directed by some of the biggest names in film from around the world.

Scheduled to launch in 2017, each hour-long special will showcase the incredible humanity, variety and achievements of the modern Olympic era.

Peter Berg, director of "Friday Night Lights" and "Patriots Day", will helm the first film, which will focus on the iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, a three-time Olympic gold medallist.

He famously turned down $5 million (£3.9 million/€4.7 million) to fight Muhammad Ali.

The film will also focus on the man responsible for his greatest achievements, the legendary coach Alcides Sagarra Caron.

Filmed in Havana and the United States, the documentary will include exclusive access to Cuba’s sporting complex in a moment of historic change.

Marshall, whose producing credits include titles such as "Jurassic World” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, will executive produce alongside MSM’s Mike Tollin.

MSM executive vice-president Jon Weinbach and Olympic Channel Senior Commissioning Editor Gregory Groggel will serve as co-executive producers.

“Frank Marshall and Mike Tollin are among the world’s greatest storytellers and we look forward to creating high-quality and universally appealing films together,” said Mark Parkman, general manager of the Olympic Channel.

“This ambitious new documentary series, with the first episode by acclaimed filmmaker Peter Berg, continues the Olympic Channel’s efforts in bringing the stories of Olympic heroes to life through our original programming.”

In addition to depictions of iconic individuals and record-breaking teams, the “Five Rings Films” documentaries will spotlight athletes who have made an impact beyond sports, in realms ranging from politics to the environment to social justice.

Additional subjects and directors for the series will be announced in the coming months.

The Olympic Channel was launched on August 21 as a key part of the Olympic Movement’s push to engage more young people and spark interest in Olympism all year-round.

The Channel is widely seen as the most significant development to come out of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reform initiative.

IOC members unanimously approved the Channel - which has a fully-funded budget of $490 million (£370 million/€443 million) for its first seven years - at the 127th IOC Session in Monte Carlo.