Ben Affleck Is in Good Spirits (& Sneakers)
While arriving for an appearance on Good Morning America on March 20, Ben Affleck looked actually...not miserable. In this rare moment (retweet for good luck), the actor put away his meme-able grimace to happily greet fans upon arriving at the set.
Affleck wasn't the only one in good spirits. Not too far behind were his Air castmates Viola Davis and Matt Damon, who were all smiles as they headed into the building.
The crew is fresh off the SXSW premiere of Air, which received a lengthy standing ovation plus a swarm of positive reviews during the annual conference.
Air, set to hit theaters on April 5, follows Nike's pursuit of Michael Jordan for what would become their game-changing partnership (the birth of the Air Jordan 1 included).
During SXSW, Affleck, who directs and stars in the film, discussed how he sought Michael Jordan's approval for the film rather than Nike's. He got the thumbs-up from the basketball legend, but not without a few asks for the film.
It's all making a little sense, as there's been very little association with the Oregon sportswear company during the promo run. The movie's posters even flex just the castmates or the outsole of the Air Jordan 1 sneaker, save the sign of any Swooshes and Nike branding.
Sure, Air involves Nike and its famous executives, but Jordan is the focal point (his family, his first signature shoe, and his deal's impact on culture and sports).
Nonetheless, Affleck himself has been quietly getting the Swoosh in on foot. When showing up for his appearance today, he naturally sported Travis Scott's Air Jordan 1 Low sneaker (it's safe to say he's a big fan of Mr. Scott's footwear). And he also walked away with a custom pair of Jays, courtesy of the GMA team.
Between SXSW's positive reaction and the impressive ensemble of a cast (I mean, anything involving Viola Davis is automatically a goodie, no?), I'm sold. Catch me seated for Air when it comes out.
