"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 (Matt Damon) 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.

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. See Affleck's detailed story below:

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.” (Imitating Jordan’s voice.) 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. I’ve never known anybody with that kind of charisma and power who walks into a room and it just reverberates. And is it him or is it the way people treat him? Is it your memories of him? I don’t know, but it’s powerful. I said, “Please, can I come out?” And he was great. “Yeah, no problem. Come to the golf course.” Went out, met with him. I waited for him to finish playing. I don’t golf myself. I have to be very clear, this is not the authorized Michael Jordan story. He was not compensated in a way that would be appropriate if this were that. If you’re going to do a Michael Jordan story, they should back the f——ng truck up. This was me saying, “Mike, I’m not going to make the movie if you’re not cool with something about it. I just won’t do it. I want to know what’s important to you.” He was very clear. He was the one who told me about [Nike executive] Howard White, who wasn’t in the original script, who’s played by Chris Tucker. And I said, “Any anecdotes about your dad?” And without going into any more detail, he actually talked about his mom, who wasn’t really in the script. That’s when I understood what the movie was. Talking to him about his mom was incredibly moving, and I realized, “Oh, this isn’t about Nike.” I said, “So, do you have any ideas about who would …?” And immediately I was like, “Oh, f—k.” Because I’m about to ask him who to cast. And if I don’t get them, it’s going to look to him like I ignored him. It’s actually hard to get actors. And I knew who he was going to say because it was the same person that I’ve wanted to direct for so long, who I think is … I don’t think there’s an objective best actor. But I do think there’s a group of people who you can say, “These are the best actors in the world.” And Viola’s quite obviously among them. And [Jordan] looked at me real straight and — by the way, there’s one line for the mother character in the movie at this point — and I’m thinking, “Oh my God, he wants me to offer this to Viola Davis. How am I going to offer Viola Davis a movie with one line? That’s not going to happen.” But he was like, “That’s my mom.” He was dead serious. “Viola Davis, that’s my mom.” And that was it. Discussion was over. However it happened, it wasn’t his problem, but it was going to f——ng happen. And I was like, “OK, Mike.”

Jordan's Air Involvement Was Key (Even If He's Not In It)



Even if it likely involved a script rewrite, Affleck was lucky to grab Davis for Air. Not only did casting Davis fall in line with Jordan’s desires, but the largely acclaimed actor has become more sought-after than ever following her recent status as an EGOT winner. The acronym is used to describe those who have garnered an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony win, with Davis finally achieving it with her Grammy win for narrating the audio book version of her autobiography, Finding Me.

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."

 https://screenrant.com/ai .. leck-detailed/

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Y wasnt he involved in the first place?

xbossxplayax said Y wasnt he involved in the first place?

MJ’s price tag.

This movie concept and cast has me drooling. Cant wait.

It's fascinating that they wanted to do a story about Nike yet really tell the story of MJ making Nike what it is and leave MJ out and solely tell their perspective.. No telling what they planned on telling if Ben never talked to MJ

Scream VI had some fire trailers

SeanDon122 said It's fascinating that they wanted to do a story about Nike yet really tell the story of MJ making Nike what it is and leave MJ out and solely tell their perspective.. No telling what they planned on telling if Ben never talked to MJ

Better had talked to Jordan if there was gonna be any extensive background portrayed with his character. MJs lawyers don’t fu*k around

Why has MJ traditionally not allowed his likeness to be used? 2K just recently put him in and before that it was NBA Street vol. 2

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Plenty of games where he’s missing though.

Opening night wearing my J’s.

lovetalkgames said Why has MJ traditionally not allowed his likeness to be used? 2K just recently put him in and before that it was NBA Street vol. 2 view image Plenty of games where he’s missing though.

Keeps the value of his brand at a premium.

HeightsBound said MJ’s price tag.

Nah. It's an Amazon backed movie, if it was about money then Amazon would put the money up..And besides that MJ has more money than he can spend in 100 lifetimes. He isn't doing anything for money at this point in his life.

Jordan doesn't want anyone portraying him. It's really that simple

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lovetalkgames said Why has MJ traditionally not allowed his likeness to be used? 2K just recently put him in and before that it was NBA Street vol. 2 view image Plenty of games where he’s missing though.

It’s not that. It’s that most people in the nba past and present fall under 1 contract, and Jordan and Barkley I kno has their own contracts somehow. It’s not that Jordan didn’t allow his likeness to be used, it’s that the video game budgets wouldn’t allow, and when you have the entire nba correct how is the game really going to be effected by 1 person who could be injured or retire at will and not be a factor anyway. Especially when u can put his presents in under created player 99.

It was more a financial decision on the game developers side.

pippen33 said Nah. It's an Amazon backed movie, if it was about money then Amazon would put the money up..And besides that MJ has more money than he can spend in 100 lifetimes. He isn't doing anything for money at this point in his life. Jordan doesn't want anyone portraying him. It's really that simple view image view image

You’re having a different conversation. The question asked was why he wasn’t involved. This is not a MJ bio movie.

HeightsBound said You’re having a different conversation. The question asked was why he wasn’t involved. This is not a MJ bio movie.

I'm not actually asking any question. And you must lack basic comprehension skills. The reason that MJ wasn't involved and isn't portrayed is one in the same.

MJ is a multi-billionaire but according to you he would be involved if they offered more money. That's fu*kin absurd. He is worth at least $2 Billion. Even if they offered $50 Million he would tell them to fu*k off.

Has nothing to do with money.

lovetalkgames said Why has MJ traditionally not allowed his likeness to be used? 2K just recently put him in and before that it was NBA Street vol. 2 view image Plenty of games where he’s missing though.

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pippen33 said I'm not actually asking any question. And you must lack basic comprehension skills. The reason that MJ wasn't involved and isn't portrayed is one in the same. MJ is a multi-billionaire but according to you he would be involved if they offered more money. That's fu*kin absurd. He is worth at least $2 Billion. Even if they offered $50 Million he would tell them to fu*k off. Has nothing to do with money.

My comment you quoted answered the question in regards to his non involvement. Secondly, Ben Affleck went into detail on why he personally made the decision on have an absent Jordan character throughput the duration of the film.

Once again, you’re having multiple conversations to prove a point that is not even up for debate.

zzxxccvvbb said Scream VI had some fire trailers

Scream was better than I expected.

HeightsBound said My comment you quoted answered the question in regards to his non involvement. Secondly, Ben Affleck went into detail on why he personally made the decision on have an absent Jordan character throughput the duration of the film. Once again, you’re having multiple conversations to prove a point that is not even up for debate.

I'm not having multiple conversations..You are just a remedial a*s n*gga.

And the fact that you believed that "explanation" that Ben gave tells me everything I need to know about you. That "explanation" was bullsh*t but you believed it. Cool.

Ben didn't make that decision..Jordan made that decision for him.

You definitely belong on the short bus.

fu*k those sneakers

Idk how they’re gonna tell the story without having someone playing as MJ

Ant McQueen said Scream was better than I expected.

I'm conflicted on it.

Definitely had some tense scenes and I enjoyed most of it, but if I think about the "bad." It's ike what the fu*k was that sh*t

Ant McQueen said Scream was better than I expected.

Facts, I took my son to see it last weekend and we didn't know who
[spoiler - click to view]
until the end...

lovetalkgames said Why has MJ traditionally not allowed his likeness to be used? 2K just recently put him in and before that it was NBA Street vol. 2 view image Plenty of games where he’s missing though.

He's asks for a lot, he also had seperate rights. I guess recently he hasn't been asking for much

First day imax

Ben affleck got another one in the bag