Who plays Michael Jordan in Air?

Air, a sports marketing biopic based on the true story of Sonny Vaccaro’s mission to sign Michael Jordan to Nike, hits theaters April 5, 2023. The trailer has left prospective viewers asking who plays Michael Jordan in Air considering the film is set in 1984, prior to the legendary basketball phenom making a name for himself in the NBA.

Vaccaro, who was looking for a way to boost sales, had the brilliant idea to partner with an athlete to raise Nike’s profile. At the time, the shoe company wasn’t a shining star in the sneaker industry with a brand synonymous with sports, particularly basketball. But Jordan also wasn’t the player we know him to be today. He was an untried rookie who’d yet to step foot on a professional court but Vaccaro saw an opportunity and was determined to seize it.

In the movie, he tries to connect with Jordan via his parents, mentors, friends, and former coaches in order to gain access to him and establish what would become an iconic brand. But will viewers actually get to see the GOAT? Here’s what we know!

Who plays Michael Jordan in Air?

Yes, you do get to see Jordan in the film, however, its in snatches and glimpses primarily shown from behind or not straight on. The actor who plays him is Damian Delano Young, a newcomer whose credits include Strictly for the Streets Vol. 2 and Prom Night Flex. Both titles came out in 2022.

Per Distractify, Ben Affleck–who stars in and directed Air–explained the reason behind the choice to barely show Jordan. He had the following to say in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning:

"This is a movie about an icon, about somebody who is so meaningful that the minute I show you somebody and tell you, ‘Hey, that’s Michael Jordan,’ you’re just gonna go, ‘No it isn’t. I know what Michael Jordan is, I know what he is. And not only that, but the only actor Michael Jordan was a little old to play this part, and we probably couldn’t afford him. But the idea was, if I show you … you know that’s not Michael Jordan. And now everything else is fake."

Air releases exclusively in theaters Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more movie news and coverage! We’ll keep you posted on what’s coming to theaters and streaming throughout the year.