Ben Affleck recounts real-life Michael Jordan’s influence on the upcoming Nike film Air. Directed by Affleck and written by Alex Convery, Air will follow the story of Nike shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro is his efforts to pursue future basketball star Jordan for a sponsorship. Affleck also stars in the movie, alongside Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis in the role of Jordan’s mother Deloris Jordan.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck provides a detailed account of Jordan’s involvement in Air. Having been in social circles with Jordan for years, Affleck was determined to get the story right, turning to the NBA legend for insight on how to best tell it, including who should play his mother, as Jordan indicated her key presence in his signing with Nike.
I periodically play cards sometimes with Michael, and we’ve got mutual friends, and … None of it sounds good, OK? And it’s not like he’d be like, “Oh yeah, Ben’s my boy.” He’d be like, “Yeah, I know him.” Jordan is — he’s a hero to me. And I know how important and meaningful a figure he is, in particular in the African American community. If you’re going to f—k around with talking about Michael Jordan, do it respectfully. Nobody’s asking you to do a hagiography, but get it f——ng right.
With such major co-stars for Air as Damon, Bateman, and Affleck, Davis is not the only superstar talent behind the upcoming Nike movie biopic. With Deloris Jordan clearly receiving a much more prominent role than a one-line feature, Air will look different from how it was originally conceptualized. Michael Jordan’s discussion of mother Deloris was in fact what led Affleck to understand that “this isn’t about Nike,” but rather a more personal story.
That being said, Air’s plot is still ostensibly motivated by an impending shoe: Nike Air Jordan’s. The biopic will thus have to balance this driving the main plot intertwining with Jordan’s life. As Davis takes a more prominent role, it will be interesting to see how much screen time she actually gets in Air.