According to Chris Tucker, his role in the highly anticipated film, AIR, was “sent by God.”
The comedian and actor, who stars in the film as Howard White, told Ice Cream Convos, “I think it came from God because it came out of nowhere. My part wasn’t in the original script.”
Chris went on to share how it was Michael Jordan who demanded Ben Affleck (who directed and stars in the film) cast Viola Davis to play his mother, Deloris, and he wanted Howard White, who was his “bridge to Nike,” to be included in the film.
When Ben approached Chris Tucker about the role, he admits he was hesitant about taking such a small part in a film after being off of the big screen for seven years.
But, it was kismet because Howard, who happens to be one of Chris’ very good friends, went above and beyond to provide him with the information he needed to increase his role in the film.
Howard put me on the phone with everybody that ever knew him in his life!
From people, when he was five-years-old riding bikes in Virginia on the street as a kid…high school coaches, and teachers, all the way up to Charles Barkley, when he worked with him.
He worked with Moses Malone, who I met before he passed.
So, he was so helpful…to talk to him for hours and embody his spirit and get his dialect down.
It was like a masterclass. He really gave me a masterclass. Thank God that he was here…
Chris also told us that a Howard White project may be in the works.
His life is amazing! We’re thinking about making his story.
I’m excited about that…his real-life story!
Watch below as Chris Tucker gives us the scoop.
About Howard White
Howard White is a prominent executive at Nike and a key figure in the company’s history.
He joined Nike in 1980 as a sales representative and rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Jordan Brand, a division of Nike that specializes in basketball shoes and apparel.
White is known for his close relationship with Michael Jordan, the basketball legend who signed with Nike in 1984 and went on to become one of the most iconic athletes in history.
White played a key role in securing Jordan’s endorsement deal with Nike and has been instrumental in building the Jordan Brand into a global phenomenon.
About AIR
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.
Watch the official trailer below.
AIR opens in theaters nationwide on April 5, 2023.
Do you plan to see the film when it is released?
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