Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will share the screen once again.
Since the two actor-friends took a 25-year hiatus between co-writing the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting” and 2020's “The Last Duel," it must mean that they are excited about the latest project they've signed up for.
The currently unnamed sports marketing drama is based on the true life story of former Nike executive Sonny Vaccarro and his long, intense pursuit to get basketball legend Michael Jordan to sign with the athletic shoe giant in the mid-eighties.
As The Hollywood Reporter noted, Damon will play Vaccarro, while Affleck will tap into the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Affleck will also direct, while both will co-write and produce.
The film will show how Nike’s deal with Jordan catapulted the sneaker business into a global, multi-billion dollar industry, and lifted the fortunes of the NBA along with it, per the outlet. At the time, Nike ranked as the third place shoe company.
The film will mostly focus on Vaccarro’s relentless pursuit of Jordan – though the basketball legend himself will remain a kind of hovering force in the film. Viewers will get to know him more through Vaccarro’s relationship building with Jordan's parents, particularly his powerful mother, and other family and friends.
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A 2015 ESPN “30 for 30” documentary short, entitled “Sole Man,” peaked interest in Vaccarro. It was co-directed by Skydance Sports president Jon Weinbach and now Skydance Sports senior vp Dan Marks. Weinbach was also one of the producers of the 2020 Emmy-winning series about the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls, “The Last Dance,” and was integral in obtaining Vaccarro’s life story for this new project. It will be the first major feature from the newly-minted Skydance Sports division.
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The original script was called “Air Jordan,” and is currently being re-worked by Affleck and Damon. Affleck and Damon won an Oscar for co-writing “Good Will Hunting." While they joined forces again to co-write “The Last Duel," this will be the first time Affleck will direct a feature starring his good friend Damon.
Amazon Studios and Skydance Sports are still finalizing the deal for the film.
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