Ben Affleck laughingly termed his approach to persuading Viola Davis to enact the role of Michael Jordan’s mother in his latest film, Air (centered on Nike’s pursuit of Jordan and the birth of the iconic Air Jordan sneaker), as “Begging.”
In a candid chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck shared, “The likely reason she accepted was probably ‘Michael Jordan wishes for you to portray his mother.’ Definitely not ‘Ben Affleck hopes you’ll star in his film.’”
When discussing Davis, he mentioned her dislike for flattery and excessive admiration, saying, “You sense she detests it. I just accorded her due respect and assured her, ‘When you’re set, inform us. We await your decision.’”
While tight-lipped about the specifics of her role, in which she shares the screen with her real-life spouse, Julius Tennon (playing Jordan’s dad), Affleck expressed his enthusiasm. The film also stars Affleck as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight, Matt Damon (from Affleck’s Artists Equity production company) as a Nike executive, with appearances by Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Barbara Sukowa, and Damian Delano Young depicting Jordan (only seen partially or in silhouette).
Affleck hinted, “I’d prefer her role to remain under wraps until the film’s release.”
The Moment Affleck Knew Viola Davis Was the One
The idea to cast Davis was birthed during a golf game with Jordan. When Affleck sought Jordan’s consent for Air, he also inquired about his choice to represent his mother, Deloris Jordan. However, as Affleck was about to pop the question, anxiety surged in, doubting his capacity to bag the preferred actor for the role.
Affleck reminisced, “Michael reminisced about his mother, who was marginally mentioned in the draft. That’s when the movie’s core struck me. It dawned upon me that it’s more than just a Nike tale.”
Navigating his chat with Jordan, Affleck’s apprehensions grew, especially when Jordan explicitly expressed his desire for Davis to enact his mother’s role, stating firmly, “Viola Davis, she’s the one.”
Affleck humorously recalled his reaction, “I’m thinking, ‘How can I propose a role to Viola Davis with just a single dialogue line in the script?’ But for Michael, it was Davis or no one for the role of his mother.”
Fortune smiled on Affleck when Davis graciously accepted. Reflecting on her time during the film’s shoot, she praised Affleck, expressing to THR, “Ben’s a visionary and exudes kindness and courtesy. It was one of our most cherished experiences, feeling truly valued and esteemed.”
The film, Air, is set to grace theaters on April 5, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.