Ben Affleck talks about consulting with Michael Jordan for his upcoming film AIR

Ben AffleckThe latest directorial feature from is the story of the Nike Air Jordan, a shoe unlike any other ever seen, based on one of the greatest athletes of all time, Michael Jordan, who sported it. The film Air was written by Alex Converybut Affleck is clear that Michael Jordan’s blessing on the making of the film and his contributions to the story really shaped the characters and the outcome of the film.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck was asked how he approached talking to Jordan about the film and if they had known each other before. He explained:

I play cards with Michael occasionally, and we have mutual friends, and… None of that sounds right, okay? And it’s not like, “Oh yeah, Ben’s my boyfriend.” (Mimicking Jordan’s voice.) He said: “Yes, I know him.” Jordan is… he’s a hero to me. And I know how important and significant a figure he is, particularly in the African-American community. If you’re going to go around talking about Michael Jordan, do it respectfully. No one’s asking you to do a hagiography, but do it fucking right. I’ve never met anyone with the kind of charisma and power that walks into a room and it reverberates. And is it him or is it the way people treat him? Is it your memories of him? I don’t know, but he is powerful. I said, “Please, can I come out?” And it was great. “Yes, no problem. Come to the golf course. I went out, I met him.

He continued:

I must be very clear, this is not Michael Jordan’s authorized story. He has not been compensated in a way that would be appropriate if that were the case. If you’re going to do a Michael Jordan story, they should back the fucking truck. I was saying, “Mike, I’m not doing the movie if you don’t agree with something about it. I just won’t. I want to know what’s important to you. That was very clear. It was he who told me about it [Nike executive] Howard White, who wasn’t in the original script, played by Chris Tucker. And I said, “Any anecdote about your father?” And without going into detail, she actually talked about his mother, which wasn’t really in the script. That’s when I realized what the movie was. Talking to him about his mother was incredibly moving and I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t about Nike.’

He continued on about the casting discussion with Jordan:

I said, “So, do you have any idea who that would be…?” And immediately I was like, “Oh shit.” Because I’m about to ask him who to choose. And if I don’t understand them, it will feel like I ignored it. It’s actually hard to find actors. And I knew who was going to say because he was the same guy that I’ve wanted to direct for so long, which I think is… I don’t think there’s an objective best actor. But I think there’s a group of people that you can say to, “These are the best actors in the world.” And Viola is obviously among them. AND [Jordan] he’s looked at me real straight and – by the way, there’s a line for the mother character in the film at this point – and I’m thinking, “Oh my god, he wants me to offer that to Viola Davis. How am I going to offer Viola Davis a movie with a joke? It’s not going to happen.” But he was like, “That’s my mother.” He was very serious. “Viola Davis, that’s my mother.” And that was it. The argument was over. Whatever happened, it wasn’t his problem, but this was gonna fucking happen, and I was like, “OK, Mike.”

It’s nice that they had this story out of the box and Michael Jordan was able to tailor it to be more real and, well, personal. I can’t wait to see it, especially Viola Davisthe performance of.

Air hits theaters April 5. Tickets are now available.