Michael Jordan is one of the most prominent names on the planet. Since he isn’t too keen on public appearances, even a glimpse of ‘His Airness’ causes a frenzy among fans. Furthermore, it’s safe to say that many people are scared of displeasing MJ. If he sets his sight on something, then his demands are usually met. That was again the case when Hollywood star Ben Affleck sat down with the six-time NBA champion to discuss a movie centered around MJ’s deal with Nike.

‘Air’ is an upcoming movie by filmmaker Ben Affleck and actor Matt Damon’s new company, Artists Equity. It is a biographical film that follows the long-standing partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike.

Jordan’s demand that made Ben Affleck anxious

The film follows the story of an atypical team that dares to undertake bold risks and give it their all. We are introduced to James’ mother, a resolute woman who recognizes her son’s unparalleled talent and refuses to compromise on his potential. The story follows the rise of Jordan, who eventually solidifies his position as the greatest of all time.

While developing ideas with Jordan, Affleck faced a challenging demand that made him anxious. According to Affleck’s interview with ‘The Hollywood Reporter’, Jordan was adamant about casting Viola Davis as his mother on screen. What troubled Affleck was that Jordan’s mother only had one dialogue in the whole film. He felt if he didn’t get Davis for the film, then it might look like he had ignored MJ.

He said, “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.” Jordan was dead set on casting Viola as Deloris Jordan. And that was the end of the discussion. He continued, “However it happened, it wasn’t his problem, but it was going to f*****g happen. And I was like, ‘OK, Mike.’”

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Despite the movie being centered around Michael Jordan, he does not appear in the film. And Affleck, the director of the movie, explained why.

Why isn’t Michael Jordan in the movie?

Affleck decided not to bring Jordan into the screen. ‘Air’ isn’t told from the perspective of Jordan but from the perspective of Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro is the marketing executive that pushed Jordan to start his own exclusive line of shoes. This gives the audience an insight into the lives of those who brought Air Jordans to life.

Affleck said, “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*** around with talking about Michael Jordan, do it respectfully. Nobody’s asking you to do a hagiography, but get it f***ing right.”

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Following Affleck’s request to meet with Jordan, the duo then later hung out together to play golf and come up with ideas for the plot. They also discussed the cast of the movie. The movie is set to release on 5th April 2023. With a strong supporting cast, Air will hopefully present a truthful and enjoyable account of Nike’s pursuit of a legend.