It seems that the world is operating at full tilt, and even so, there are some things that remain constant. One of these is the way Matt Damon and Ben Affleck remain friends and can be seen happily working together. This time, the pair are working on their new project, which will be about Michael Jordan, Nike, and their iconic sneaker deal.
The Movie for the Jordan Sneaker Deal Does Not Have a Title, Just Yet
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were recently seen strolling around a set in Los Angeles on official business, filming the not-yet-titled movie about Nike’s quest to get a sneaker contract with Michael Jordan. The legendary deal would later sire the Air Jordan empire that sparked modern sneaker culture.
The duo co-wrote the screenplay, and Ben Affleck is set to be the director. The two will also star as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight and former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who was also a sneaker salesman that had set his sights on Jordan back in the ’80s. Reportedly, Damon was spotted in character as Vaccaro and was clearly sporting the same look.
The Sneaker Deal Project Is Ben and Matt’s Third Collaboration
The project about Nike’s sneaker deal with Jordan will be the iconic duo’s third script collaboration. They first got the 1997’s Academy Award for Good Will Hunting and recently did 2021’s The Last Duel. It was the movie that marked the first time Ben Affleck directed his longtime friend Matt Damon.
The cast is still being updated, but so far, there’s a slew of big names, including Jason Bateman, starring as Rob Strasser, who was the longtime Nike executive and oversaw Jordan’s marketing. Chris Tucker will play the junior executive and former University of Maryland basketball player Howard White. Viola Davis will play Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris. Chris Messina will become his original agent David Falk. Marlon Wayans will be the legendary basketball coach George Raveling, who was a mutual friend of both Jordan and Vaccaro and helped to move the deal into motion.
As for Michael Jordan himself, it seems that he’ll function as a mythic figure in the film and won’t be making an appearance on screen.