All About 'Air' — And Who Plays Michael Jordan

A new Matt Damon-Ben Affleck movie, "Air," tells the story behind the iconic shoes.

Michael Jordan didn't just dominate the hardwood in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. He became a cultural icon. A crossover star in the literal and figurative senses, His Airness dabbled in acting and baseball. He also launched the GOAT of sneakers.

Air Jordans became the must-have shoes for people with or without hoop dreams, becoming a fashion statement on the blacktop and even red carpet.

The story behind the iconic shoes is slated to get the movie star treatment in the upcoming flick Air: Courting a Legend. A cast with star power similar to those 1990s Bulls teams will team up to share the history behind the Air Jordan sneaker. Air is directed by Ben Affleck and stars his childhood bestie Matt Damon and other notable names like Jason Bateman, Viola Davis and Chris Tucker.

Here's what we know about Air: Courting a Legend right now.

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When is the Air movie release date?

Air is set for theatrical release on April 5, 2023. It's slated to play on 3,000 screens across the United States during an exclusive theatrical run, marking the largest theatrical release that didn't coincide with a simultaneous drop on Amazon Prime.

Related: Who Is Michael Jordan's Wife?

Who is in the Air movie cast?

Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro

Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro, a real-life sports marketing executive who took a bet on Michael Jordan during his Nike tenure. Vaccaro inked then-rookie MJ to his first sneaker deal, and, like Jordan's career, the rest is the stuff of legends.

Ben Affleck as Phil Knight

Ben Affleck serves as Air's director and will also play Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The last time Affleck picked up a director's credit was for Live By Night (2016).

Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser

Jason Bateman plays the late Nike executive Rob Strasser, who left the company to become CEO of Adidas before his death in 1993 at 46.

Chris Messina as David Falk

Chris Messina, whose most notable role is Danny Castellano on The Mindy Project, will portray David Falk, Jordan's agent.

Marlon Wayans as George Raveling

Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in LA.

Chris Tucker as Howard White

Stand-up comedian and actor Chris Tucker is set to portray Howard White, a Nike exec who Jordan counts as a mentor.

Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan

The latest member of the EGOT club, Viola Davis, stars as MJ's mother. Jordan handpicked her to play his mom, and Davis didn't know about it until the movie was wrapped and premiering at the SXSW Festival in March 2023.

"I'm just hearing about it now," she told PEOPLE. "So yeah, so it blew my mind. I'm glad I didn't know about it before." She added, "I use the term 'zen neutrality' with her. Someone who just moves calmly through life, making major decisions, slaying dragons, making dreams come true. But doing it calmly and succinctly. Yeah, that's not me!"

Matthew Mahar as Peter Moore

Matthew Mahar plays Peter Moore, the former Nike creative director.

Tom Papa as Stu Iman

Tom Papa takes on the role of Stu Iman, the man who went down in infamy for selecting Sam Bowie as the No. 2 pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan went third but produced a much more prolific career than Bowie, who averaged about 10 points during an injury-prone NBA tenure.

Julius Tennon as James R. Jordan, Sr.

Julius Tennon plays MJ's father, James R. Jordan, Sr., who died in 1993.

Related: The 12 Best Ben Affleck Movies Ever

Who plays Jordan in the movie Air?

No one. Though Air centers around the history of Michael Jordan's famous shoe, the man widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time never appears in the movie.

Jordan very particular about how his image and likeness get used, notes an Esquire report. That said, you will see real footage of Jordan from his college days at the University of North Carolina, an insider told Variety. Viola Davis plays MJ's mother, Deloris, and her real-life husband Julius Tennon plays his late father, James R. Jordan, Sr.

Related: 50 Motivational Michael Jordan Quotes That Prove He's the GOAT 

Is the movie Air streaming?

Not yet. Eventually, Air will stream on Amazon Prime Video, but it's unclear when. In fact, Variety reports that Amazon is planning a longer exclusive theatrical release than most studios.

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Is the movie Air based on a true story?

Yes. Air is based on the true story of Nike shoe salesperson Sonny Vaccaro's relentless and risky—but ultimately legendary—pursuit of a sneaker deal with Michael Jordan. Jordan was an NBA rookie at the time. The deal, which eventually led to the launch of the first Air Jordan, transcended sports.

Related: Michael Jordan Celebrates Milestone Birthday With Generous Donation

Is there an Air movie trailer?

Yes. The trailer dropped in February and gave an overview of Air—and the stakes. Nike is struggling to find its footing, with Converse dominating the basketball space. "I'm willing to bet my career on one guy," says Damon, playing Vaccaro. Since he couldn't afford Jesus, Nike opted for Jordan. Stars like Affleck and Davis also appear in the trailer, which is two minutes and 16 seconds long. Amazon Studios reportedly shelled out $7 million for a Super Bowl ad.

Related: What Is Matt Damon's Net Worth?

Why is Air rated R?

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave Air an R rating for language throughout. Movies rated R require a parent or adult guardian to accompany someone under 17.

Next, find out Ben Affleck's net worth.