Nike Air movie 2023: Cast, trailer, release date for ‘Air: Courting A Legend’ & why Michael Jordan isn’t in it
The 2022 NFL season ends on Sunday. What better way to prepare sports fans for the heart of basketball season than a basketball movie trailer?
Amazon will air a $7 million ad during Super Bowl 57 for its upcoming film Air: Courting a Legend, a film about Nike’s pursuit of NBA rookie Michael Jordan for its new line of shoes.
Amazon is becoming more and more involved in the film industry. A 2016 release, Manchester by the Sea was one of Amazon Studios’ first major film projects. He received six Academy Award nominations and won two: Best Actor (Casey Affleck) and Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan). The studio has continued to produce films and has received six other Academy Award nominations.
With more than 100 million eyes on the Super Bowl, Amazon is hoping to garner plenty of attention for one of its latest theatrical releases before it hits theaters in April.
MORE: Watch Super Bowl 57 Live With fuboTV (Free Trial)
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming film about the rise of Nike’s most iconic footwear brand.
What is Air: Courting a Legend about?
The biopic focuses on Sonny Vaccaro, creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the United States, and Vaccaro decides to partner with Jordan, a rookie who was just drafted third overall by the Bulls from the University of North Carolina.
The film follows the company’s quest for Jordan to create the now iconic brand.
release date of the air
- Date: April 5, 2023
- How to see: In theatres
The film will be released on April 5th. According to Variety, it will be shown on more than 3,000 screens in the United States. The film will then be streamed on Amazon’s Amazon Prime streaming service.
Amazon’s decision to bring the film to theaters is described by Variety as “unprecedented” as the company seeks to influence the streaming services that bring movies to the big screen.
MORE: Miles Teller and wife Keleigh flaunt dance chops in Bud Light Super Bowl ad
“Air” pendant
The Air trailer was released ahead of the game, but a spot will air sometime during the Super Bowl.
‘Air’ film cast
The cast of “Air” includes a number of high-profile actors, including Academy Award winners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, EGOT winner Viola Davis, and Emmy winner Jason Bateman.
Affleck also directed the film.
| Actor | Play |
|---|---|
| Matt Damon | Sonny Vaccaro |
| Ben Affleck | Phil Knight |
| Jason Bateman | Rob Strasser |
| Viola Davis | Deloris Jordan |
| Chris Messina | David Falk |
| Gustaf Skarsgard | Horst Dassler |
| Barbara Sukova | Kathy Dassler |
| Chris Tucker | Howard White |
| Marlon Wayans | George Raveling |
| Jessica Green | Catherine Sainz |
| Julius Tennon | James Jordan |
Who is in Air in 2023?
The film focuses on Vaccaro’s parents, Knight and Jordan.
Damon will star as Vaccaro, while Affleck will play the role of Knight. Davis and Julius Tennon will play Jordan’s parents, Deloris and James Jordan.
Why isn’t Michael Jordan in the Air movie?
Jordan could be a main character in the film’s plot, and the real Jordan will appear in archival footage, but there will be no actor portraying him.
MORE: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: The top stats you need to know in the GOAT debate
“Jordan will be a mythical figure who hovers over the film and will never be seen, even as Vaccaro attempts to reach him by gaining access to those close to him,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote in April 2022.
As Screen Rant wrote, the purpose of omitting Jordan from the film is to build a mystical element around the legendary basketball talent. It should also help keep focus on Vaccaro, Knight and Nike.