While directing ‘Air,’ Ben Affleck reveals Michael Jordan‘s requests.
SXSW was abuzz this weekend with the star-studded premiere of Ben Affleck’s eagerly awaited movie, Air. This film is one to watch, featuring actors such as Matt Damon, Damian Young, and beyond!
Unveiling the film at SXSW, Affleck shared what Michael Jordan requested before directing it. According to Variety, Affleck confirmed that he received the basketball star’s approval before starting production on this film, “I had a chance to sit down with Michael Jordan because I just wasn’t going to make this movie without asking him, ‘What matters to you?’ Interestingly, and tellingly, he had a few things that mattered.”
Affleck claims that Jordan had a few essential aspects of the narrative he insisted must be presented in the movie. “One of them was that Howard White needed to be in the movie.” Upon hearing about the importance of White, Affleck realized he had the opportunity to cast Chris Tucker, someone he has wanted to work with for a long time. When it came down to the script, Affleck once again spoke with Jordan about the major influences in his life. He said, “Michael Jordan, for those of you who don’t know, is one of the most intimidating, impressive men you’ll ever see. He told me about his father. And then he talked about his mother. It was the first time I saw this look cross his face…It was a look of reverence, awe, love, gratitude, and innocence. He said, ‘None of this would have ever happened without my mother.’ I said, ‘Who would you like to play your mom?’ He said, ‘Well, it has to be Viola Davis.’”
When it was time to pick Davis for a role, Affleck was not against the decision. “That’s like saying, ‘Can I play basketball on your court?’ ‘Yeah, if you get Michael Jordan.’” He praises the actress, “Of all the actors I have seen in my lifetime, Viola Davis stands out as an unparalleled talent. Determining success in this venture can be a difficult task. It’s not easy to tell if you’re making progress or achieving your goals, no matter how much effort you put in. With total sincerity, I have always dreamed of being a director someday and having the immense honor of working with Viola Davis in a movie. That would be an incomparable accomplishment!
Having Davis by his side was indeed a dream come true for Affleck. It meant the world to him. That’s why he invited her on stage before presenting Air, honoring their fantastic friendship with an unforgettable moment they’d always cherish together.
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