Ben Affleck To Direct Nike Drama For Amazon, Skydance Sports; Will Star Alongside Matt Damon
deadline.comBen Affleck and Matt Damon are reteaming for a Nike drama that Affleck will direct for Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, Deadline can confirm.The as-yet-untitled film will tell the true story of former Nike exec Sonny Vaccarro (Damon), who was instrumental in securing the shoe company’s mega-deal with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan during the 1980s.
Affleck will portray Nike co-founder Phil Knight.Alex Convery wrote the original screenplay, titled Air Jordan, which Mandalay brought to Skydance Sports President Jon Weinbach, who then secured Vaccarro’s life rights.
Affleck and Damon are doing a new pass on the script and will produce alongside Peter Guber and Jason Michael Berman’s Mandalay.While Affleck has never before directed Damon, the pair famously co-wrote and starred together in Gus Van Sant’s 1997 film Good Will Hunting, which won them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
They also recently reteamed for Ridley Scott’s film The Last Duel, starring there alongside Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and more.Affleck has previously directed films including Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Best Picture Oscar winner Argo and Live by Night.
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