Michael Jordan’s Demands For ‘Air’ Included Viola Davis Playing The Person Who Intervened To Make His Nike Deal Happen

“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?’” Affleck shared during the SXSW world premiere of “Air,” according to the outlet. “Interestingly, and tellingly, he had a few things that mattered. One of them was that Howard White [played by Chris Tucker] needed to be in the movie.”

“I got the script and then had the chance again to talk to Michael. Michael Jordan, for those of you who don’t know, is one of the most intimidating, impressive men you’ll ever see in your life,” Affleck continued. “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, of awe, of love, and 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.’”