We’re getting closer to the release date for the upcoming sports movie AIR.
The early reactions are overwhelmingly positive and the Nike biographical sports drama currently has a 100 percent approval rating on the film review website Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie tells the story of Knight and the partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike’s basketball division, which eventually led to the creation of the Air Jordan brand.
Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight.
Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon (as James Jordan), Chris Tucker (as Howard White), Jason Bateman (as Rob Strasser), Matthew Maher (as Peter Moore), Chris Messina (as David Falk), and Marlon Wayans (as George Raveling).
Michael Jordan, a character who appears more as a mythic figure than as an actual presence on the screen, specifically required Affleck to cast Davis to portray his mother.
This movie will have its theatrical release in the United States on April 5. Until then, you can watch the trailer to get excited and build anticipation for AIR.
You can also check out our side-by-side comparisons of the actors and all of their real-life counterparts:
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Phil Knight (played by Ben Affleck)
Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon)
🚨 New episode out with SONNY VACCARO, played by Matt Damon in the new movie "AIR" about Nike signing Michael Jordan
Sonny talks:
– Being played by a movie star
– His thoughts on the movie
– NIL in today's game@Toyota | @LedoPizza | @jimcolemanauto https://t.co/ZLwtQKSMcn pic.twitter.com/XrdoT2uD2u— DC Coaches Basketball Podcast (@CoachesDCPod) March 23, 2023
ROLE: Former Nike employee instrumental in signing Michael Jordan
Deloris Jordan (played by Viola Davis)
ROLE: Michael Jordan’s mother
James Jordan (played by Julius Tennon)
ROLE: Michael Jordan’s father
David Falk (played by Chris Messina)
ROLE: Michael Jordan’s agent
Howard White (played by Chris Tucker)
ROLE: Longtime Nike executive (currently VP of Jordan Brand)
Peter Moore (played by Matthew Maher)
Peter Moore, who died in April, was Nike’s first creative director, later creative director for Adidas, and designed a huge body of important work in the sneaker industry. Here he is in 1992 during the Adidas Equipment world tour. pic.twitter.com/MxAix1fCJH
— brendandunne (@brendandunne) May 10, 2022
ROLE: Former Nike sneaker designer
George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans)
ROLE: Former basketball coach turned Nike executive
