Ben Affleck, Matt Damon ‘AIR’ Reunion: Why the ‘Feel Good Movie’ Couldn’t Happen

The new movie starring “AIR”. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck And directed by Affleck, it reunites old friends, with the Michael Jordan stamp of approval.

It’s no secret that Affleck and Damon first met when Damon was 10 and Affleck was 8, but they’ve been friends for decades. In earlier interviews, both actors revealed that they each had a passion for acting at a young age, which drew them together. other.

During a Q&A after the New York screening of “AIR,” Affleck joked that he’s been bossing Damon around since high school.

“It’s not the first time I’ve carried him,” he said, according to Indy Wire.

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Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon attend the “AIR” world premiere. (Photo by Gary Miller/WireImage)

Damon laughed, “It might be like the first time he’s directing me. I mean, we’ve done high school plays where he’s like, ‘Dude, I think you should do this.’

“It’s been guiding me for 40 years,” he added.

of The duo worked together. Before, “goodwill hunting” was their signature role.

Damon, 27, and Affleck, 25, were roommates who co-wrote the film.

Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon hold their Oscars after winning the Original Screenplay category at the 70th Academy Awards. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

“We rented this house on the beach in Venice and 800 people came and stayed with us and got drunk,” Affleck previously said, according to Forbes magazine.

“Then we ran out of money and had to get an apartment, like, everything was fun,” he said. “So we’d live in Glendale and Eagle Rock, and we’d live in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Venice, the Hollywood Bowl, everywhere. We’d get kicked out of some places, or we’d have to upgrade or downgrade. It depends on the money.”

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Affleck and Damon not only share an apartment, but also a bank account. During an episode of the “Bill Simmons Podcast,” the two explained that they took an “all for one and one for all” approach. “We support each other and we’re there for each other,” Affleck said. “You’re not alone. I’m not going to be alone, let’s go out there and do this together.”

“As long as we have money between us, we know the power won’t shut down,” Damon added.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been friends for decades. (Getty Images)

According to Us Weekly , Affleck and Damon used the release of “Good Will Hunting” to secure a new apartment before they had any credit to their name.

“It was published in Daily Variety that we were going to get $600,000. We had no credit, so we went to rent this house for $3,000 a month, and we used a copy of Daily Variety to get the place,” Affleck said. “I was like, ‘I don’t have credit, but this is us.’ And the landlord was like, ‘OK, I’m sure.’

Affleck admitted that he avoided working with Damon after the success of “Good Will Hunting” because it was always “limiting” to be together as a duo.

Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon attend the world premiere of “AIR” at the Paramount Theater at the 2023 SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas. (Michael Lochisano/Getty Images for SXSW)

“One of the things we reflected on when we made ‘The Last Duel’ that made us want to do this company together was that we wished we had worked together more over the years. Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter.. “We fell victim to this idea of, ‘OK, if you don’t define your career and do your own thing, people will always lump you together. That’s going to be limiting.'”

“That was the advice we got,” he said.

Reflecting on how important his nearly 40-year friendship with Damon was to the exit, Affleck said, “The reason it works is because I trust him and I know he’s a man of integrity. Failure in this business is hard, and success is confusing and can make you lose. It really meant a lot to have that friendship as a touchstone for so many years.

“AIR” is produced by Affleck and Damon’s new production company, Artists Equity.

At a press conference for the film last week, Damon shared that the film would not have been made without Oscar winner Viola Davis.

“If we can’t get Viola Davis, we can’t make the movie,” Damon said.

Affleck admitted that it was “my desire to direct her in the film”. In directing Davies, the actor’s dream not only came true, but he was able to do it. Direct Damon.

Ben Affleck, left, directs longtime friend Matt Damon in his debut in “AIR.” (Photo by Gary Miller/WireImage)

“Film is not a solo art form; it’s collaborative. It depends on other people, so you need great partners. In filming, it’s all about enabling your actors to do what they can. And when you have actors. The size of this shoot, that process is just to get out of the way.” Affleck with a smile.

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“But when someone like Viola Davis comes in and walks in the door, it definitely helps make your movie 100 times better.”

“And that’s true of Matt,” Affleck continued. “He’s very, very talented, and I’m excited to be directing him for the first time and getting to know more about him as an actor. Let’s work together. We’re doubly blessed that way.”

From left to right, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis and Matt Damon at the “AIR” world premiere on March 27. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Various)

During the press conference, Damon revealed that working with Affleck in a different way was equally rewarding for him.

“We’ve written and produced together for years, of course, but working with him as a director has been an absolute joy and creatively rewarding,” Damon said.

“We tend to have similar sensibilities about what works and what doesn’t in a scene, so we had such an ease with each other. And this shoot…I was working with another heavyweight hero of mine every day. Start to finish, it was the most fun I’ve ever seen on film, and even better.” No,” he continued.

Viola Davis portrayed Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan, in “AIR.” (Photo by Steve Kagan)

Davis plays Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan, in the film, which tells the story of how Nike signed a young Jordan to a historic shoe deal that would change the business and pop culture forever.

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Casting her wasn’t just Affleck and Damon’s decision, though Affleck says working with Davis has been a “lifelong career ambition.” Damon later said, “He didn’t feel that way about working with me!”

The director said that the experience of working with all of them was like “walking on air”.

With Damon and Affleck’s new production company, their goal is to create a “fairer” experience for the crew behind the films, including cinematographers, costume designers and more, instead of seeing huge amounts of money go to actors and directors.

“AIR” Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Artists’ Equity will launch. (Photo by Jesse Oliveira)

Finally, the passion between the cast and crew for the story being told is evident on screen.

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Damon said, “It’s really for everybody, I guess we’d call them feel good movies.”

“AIR” arrives in theaters Wednesday, and later on Amazon Prime.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Stanton contributed to this report.