Nike: Comma brand success story to be the subject of a film

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will reunite in a new feature film about Nike.

The story will focus on Sonny Vaccaro’s relentless quest to sign Michael Jordan to Nike, which at the time was the third largest shoe company. A difficult path that led him to the parents of the famous American basketball player and, in particular, to his mother, described as powerful and dynamic, as well as to former coaches, advisers and friends. MJ will be a mythical figure hovering over the film that we will never see, even if Sonny Vaccaro tries to contact him on many occasions with access to his relatives and associates.

A partnership that at the time seemed impossible, but thanks to this maverick salesman, has become the most important in the relationship between a sports brand and an athlete. The deal launched the global multi-billion dollar modern sneaker industry and also helped the sport to do the same. Ben Affleck will direct, write, co-direct and executive produce the sports marketing drama, with Matt Damon also writing and producing. Mandalay Pictures, a firm run by Peter Guber and Jason Michael Berman, will also produce the film.

Skydance Sports and Amazon Studios made a film about Nike’s desire to partner with Michael Jordan.

Matt Damon will play former Nike CEO Sonny Vaccaro, while Ben Affleck will play Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The 2015 ESPN 30 of 30 documentary titled “The Only Man”focusing on Sonny Vaccaro and his story is a key element in the making of this project. Skydance Sports Chairman John Weinbach, who worked alongside Mandalay Chairman Peter Guber as one of the producers of Jordan’s The Last Dance series, was instrumental in securing the rights to Sonny Vaccaro’s Life.