Air trailer brings Ben Affleck and Matt Damon together for the story of how Michael Jordan saved Nike

Amazon Studios is thrilled to present the first trailer for Air, a new feature directed by Ben Affleck depicting how a Hail Mary marketing strategy on a rookie player helped rescue Nike from ruin and define generations of fashion and performance. The Air trailer takes us through a harrowing journey involving a down-and-out Nike shoe company and an unknown Michael Jordan, whose magic on the court elevated Nike from being on the verge of collapse to becoming a sneaker sensation worldwide.

Here’s the official synopsis for Air:

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

Air stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Jay Mohr, and Julius Tennon, with Chris Tucker and Viola Davis.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s sports drama, Air, will hit the hardwood in cinemas worldwide on April 5, 2023. The project is also coming to Amazon Prime Video at a later date. The duo’s film focuses on the early days of Nike’s marketing strategies and tactics, eventually making the brand a household name and the envy of sneakerheads everywhere.

Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, and Mandalay Pictures, not Mandalay Industries, are backing the project from Affleck and Damon’s Artists Equity label. It’s rare for Amazon to be in favor of giving such a high-profile project a theatrical release. Still, bringing films to theaters is beneficial in drumming up early buzz for streaming releases. Hardcore fans will show up to theaters to see the movie early, but positive word of mouth also increases streaming customer numbers. Amazon oversees Air’s theatrical release in the United States, while Warner Bros. International will manage overseas markets.

What do you think about Affleck’s Air trailer? Can a sneaker drama be as compelling as other corporate dramas? Arguably, Air is about more than shoes. It’s about people, a stroke of genius, and the star basketball player who helped save the company. Let us know if you plan to watch Air in the comments below.