Ben Affleck Discusses Michael Jordan’s Involvement in ‘Air’s’ Development

During an opening speech before the premiere of Air, Ben Affleck mentions his meeting with Michael Jordan over the film’s needs. From casting to including different people, Jordan was very particular about the kind of people that he wanted for this film.

Directed by Affleck, who also plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, met with Michael Jordan before shooting began to discuss any necessary details further to include and to respect Jordan’s story. Surprisingly to Affleck, Jordan asked for very little, though his requests were all taken seriously. First, he requested that Howard White, the Jordan Brand vice president instrumental in helping it take off, would be included. Affleck agreed to these terms and cast Chris Tucker, whom he had wanted to work with for a long time.

Jordan then requested that his parents be included in the script, surprising Affleck over this sentimentality. Affleck describes Jordan as having “a look of reverence, of awe, of love, and gratitude, and innocence.” He said, “None of this would have ever happened without my mother.” When asked who he would like to play as his mother, Jordan immediately asked for Viola Davis.

In his premiere speech to SXSW, Affleck spoke about his excitement to be allowed to work with a talented actress like Davis. “It’s hard to know if you’re successful. It’s hard to know if you’ve accomplished something. But honest to God, I always felt that if…I had Viola Davis in a movie, that would really be something. That would mean the world to me. And it does.”

With a bow and a gesture, Affleck introduces Viola Davis to the rest of the crowd for one last spotlight before the curtains lift to show the story of Jordan Air and its growth as a brand.