Los Angeles, June 11 (IANS) Filmmaker-actor Ben Affleck's untitled Nike drama has signed a powerful lineup of actors including Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Tom Papa and Julius Tennon, reports 'Deadline'.

The film, which rolled cameras on Monday in Los Angeles, also stars Affleck alongside his fellow 'Good Will Hunting' star, Oscar winner Matt Damon. The untitled sports marketing film will follow the incredible story of sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro (played by Damon) and how he led a fledgling running shoe company called Nike in its pursuit of the most transformative athlete in the history of sports: Michael Jordan.

As per 'Deadline', Affleck will be seen portraying Nike co-founder Phil Knight in the story surrounding Nike's longshot effort to sign Jordan to its shoe company in the mid-'80s, an endorsement that seemed impossible at the time but which would become the most significant relationship between an athletic brand and an athlete and launched the global, multibillion-dollar contemporary sneaker industry.

'Deadline' further states that Alex Convery has penned the original script, titled 'Air Jordan', which was named to the 2021 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays. Mandalay brought it to Skydance Sports President Jon Weinbach, who then secured Vaccarro's life rights. Affleck and Damon are producing alongside Peter Guber, Jason Michael Berman, Jeff Robinov, Madison Ainley, and David Ellison.

Executive producers include Jon Weinbach, Jesse Sisgold, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, Kevin Halloran, Michael Joe, John Graham, Drew Vinton, Jordan Moldo and Peter E. Strauss. The film will premiere on Prime Video at a date which is yet-to-be-announced.

--IANS

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