Djimon Hounsou: “I Have Yet To Meet The Film That Paid Me Fairly…I Feel Cheated”

post-COVID theatrical gambit, “Air,” tells the mostly untold story of how Nike convinced a promising NBA rookie named Michael Jordan to sign with them over the market-dominating likes of Addidas and Converse. Directed by Ben Affleck and starring Matt Damon alongside a packed ensemble cast, the film also stars Viola Davis, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans and Chris Messina and has debuted to mostly rapturous reviews and early-bird Oscar buzz.It’s also the feature screenwriting debut of 25-year-old Alex Convery.

Todd Gilchrist editor Michael Jordan and his signature sneakers have been a fixture of pop culture since 1984, when Sonny Vaccaro convinced the then-rookie (and more importantly, his shrewd mother, Deloris) to sign an industry-changing endorsement deal with sportswear brand Nike. “Air” dramatizes many of the finer points of these real-life events, with Matt Damon playing Vaccaro, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan and Ben Affleck pulling double duty as director and co-star. But the new film operates less as a tribute to consumerism than as an origin story of one exceptional athlete — and the leather-and-rubber vessel that has become synonymous with his legacy. “I wasn’t all that interested in the business minutiae in the story,” Affleck tells Variety. “It’s really a fable, inspired by these characters and who they represent.”

Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh is set to head to the Cannes Film Festival this year, where she will become the latest recipient of Kering’s Women In Motion Award.

Air, the about Nike's signing of rookie Michael Jordan in 1984, take place in a dimly lit office, without other people present, and over the phone. And yet, in a film that includes heavyweights Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, and Chris Tucker, Messina stands out.

While Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were writing “The Last Duel,” their first screenplay together since their 1997 breakthrough, “Good Will Hunting,” they noticed that something in their winding and usually separate careers had been missing.

“Family First: Winning the Parenting Game.”Michael Jordan could soar through the air — but he could also hem pants, dust and cook. Life skills were “a result of such parental expectations,” she wrote. The mother of five, now 81, ran a tight ship.

Viola Davis’ meeting with Julius Tennon wasn’t the stuff of great romances.

Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel’s ongoing “feud” continues.

Ben Affleck's best efforts, it doesn't seem like the longstanding feud between Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon will be ending any time soon.Affleck sat down on Tuesday's, while promoting his new film, which stars himself and Damon.«You have so many great performances in this, so many, I can't even pick who I liked the best,» Kimmel gushed during the chat. «You were great in it, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker… Viola Davis, Julius [Tennon], her husband... We had all the great people from the cast on the show.»«Well, you're leaving someone out,» Affleck said, delicately. «I mean, Matt Damon's the lead.»No, well, I said all the people from the film," Kimmel replied.«I understand you have your feuds and everything, but Matt is a friend of mine,» Affleck implored. «Honest to God, it would mean a lot to me if you just asked him one question about the movie.

Air, alongside , whose little black dress was the perfect complement to his own all-black ensemble. Barroso, 46, has attended countless events with her husband, and her style never misses.

Ben Affleck shared his excitement at the world premiere of his latest film ‘Air,’ alongside his longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon. The Hollywood star gave an emotional speech, revealing to the audience that this is an incredible achievement as director, producer, and actor.

The “Air” premiere was a family affair.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck looked more loved-up than ever as they walked the red carpet at the “Air” premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night.

Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, looked great on Monday at the premiere of his film,  at Regency Village Theatre in West Hollywood — but it was their daughters who stole the show.The 52-year-old actor and his wife of 17 years were joined by their three daughters, Isabella, 16, Gia, 14, and Stella, 12, who posed next to their parents on the red carpet. Damon recently co-founded a production company called Artists Equity with Ben Affleck, who also attended the premiere with his wife, Jennifer Lopez.Air, directed by Affleck, tells the story of the sneaker brand, Nike, and Air Jordan's rise to fame.The new film features an all-star cast, including Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, and EGOT winner Viola Davis.Also at the premiere, Damon, Affleck, and Davis, all Oscar winners, posed together.The shoes — produced by American corporation Nike, Inc — were created for Hall of Fame former basketball player Michael Jordan during his time with the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and were released on April 1,1985.Although not directly involved with the film, Jordan met with Affleck prior to the start of production and gave the project his blessing. The casting of Davis was his idea.Damon plays sports executive Sonny Vaccaro, who is in charge of improving Nike's sales in their basketball division and works to sign rookie Jordan to a deal to wear their shoes.During the premiere, Damon jokingly spoke with ET's Kevin Frazier about his longstanding bitter rivalry with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who was also at the event.

Viola Davis is making us green with envy with her incredible look at the L.A. premiere of AIR!

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were a picture perfect pair as they cute couple walked the red carpet at the premiere of Affleck's new movie, Affleck and Lopez were all smiles as they posed for photos outside the Regency Village Theatre in West Hollywood on Monday, were they sweetly cozied up on the carpet.Lopez stunned, as usual, in a gorgeous gown with a semi-sheer beige top glimmering with silver beaded embellishments and a neon green skirt.Affleck, meanwhile, looked dapper in a dark navy blue suit with matching tie and light blue button-down, and dark brown dress shoes.Affleck spoke with ET's Kevin Frazier at the premiere, and praised his wife for the guidance she gave them during the filming of «She's brilliant,» Affleck marveled, «and [she] helps me in every conceivable way.»Affleck — who stars in, as well as directed and produced the project -- previously opened up to about how Lopez helped him and co-producer Matt Damon with the story.«She is incredibly knowledgeable about the way fashion evolves through the culture as a confluence of music, sports, entertainment and dance,» Affleck explained in an Interview that came out earlier this month.Speaking with ET on Monday, Affleck shared, «This whole process really has been a collaboration with this entire cast, the crew, the group of people. You have to be open to, as far as I'm concerned, all the good ideas you can possibly get.

Matt Damon told Variety‘s Marc Malkin Monday night that Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” runs a hefty three hours long. On the red carpet for “Air,” in which he co-stars, Damon also talked about Nolan’s upcoming historic drama in which he appears alongside Cillian Murphy. “It’s three hours. It’s fantastic,” Damon said, revealing that he’s seen “Oppenheimer.” “Cillian is phenomenal. He’s everything you would want him to be,” Damon told Malkin. “I think it’s almost three hours. It goes so fast, it’s great.” Directed by Ben Affleck, “Air” stars Damon as Sonny Velasco, who led Nike to pursue the endorsement of Michael Jordan and the creation of the Air Jordan basketball sneakers. “Air” opens April 5 and co-stars Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman and Chris Messina.

Amazon Studios is taking to the streets to promote Ben Affleck’s “Air,” which chronicles the beginnings of the iconic Air Jordan sneaker brand. The studio has teamed up with iconic sneaker culture icon Jason Markk to host a multi-city consumer experience, dubbed “Fresh Air,” which ties into the film’s social campaign, “A shoe is just a shoe until I step into it.” The activation will see guerilla street teams flood U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Chicago, in a unique opportunity to bring together sneakerheads and celebrate the culture and history of the sneaker community. The street team will also have a presence at the Jason Markk flagship store in L.A.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck enjoy a quick walk between promotional events for their new movie AIR.

Ben Affleck opened up about his conversation with Michael Jordan before working on the biopic AIR.