Ben Affleck and Michael B. Jordan Discuss Their ‘Big Brother-Little Brother’ Friendship Together

Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck reflect on their Hollywood friendship.

The stars sat down for a chat in DiversityDirectors on Directors series, released on Wednesday, and recalled how they first became friends after Jordan, 36, had a breakout role in Ryan Coogler’s 2013 film. Fruitvale Station after the premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

“I remember you and Matt [Damon] hit me and they basically said, ‘Mike, your life is about to change,'” Jordan told Affleck, 51. “You just talked me through the movie and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy actually saw the movie and he loves it my work.’ ”

“From there, it was a big brother/little brother relationship,” he said.

“For me, I just remember so clearly, I saw the movie and I was like, ‘This guy is a star,'” Affleck said.

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Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.

Dan Doperalski for Variety

“It was so clear to me: This guy just goes up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up,” Affleck added. “And be prepared, because I know there’s a lot of things that are coming that are hard that no one tells you about. And I had a friend who was doing it with me [in Damon].”

Affleck said he originally wanted to connect with Jordan as his star was rising because he knew from experience that it “can be a very lonely experience at times.”

“I said, ‘Hey, man, if you want to talk to somebody who’s going to give you honest feedback … maybe I’m wrong, [but] I always tell you the truth,’ he said. ‘I love our relationship. Now I’m just bragging about it. ‘Michael Jordan is my friend. I know him.’ ”

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Ben Affleck in the movie ‘Variety’.

Dan Doperalski for Variety

“People don’t realize how much of an impact it can have on someone, especially when you don’t know what’s coming next,” Jordan added.

During the conversation, Affleck praised Jordan for making his directorial debut with this year’s film Belief III. The pair also joked about another celebrity, Michael Jordan, whose life and legacy in basketball and the sneaker industry is the subject of Affleck’s latest film Air focuses on.

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Michael B. Jordan in ‘Variety’.

Dan Doperalski for Variety

“I was thinking about Air on the way here, what I took from him. I remember when we were going to do it, I met another Michael Jordan,” Affleck joked. “It’s so stupid that there are two Michael Jordans now.”

“I appreciate it. I’m a little bit on Michael Mount Rushmore,” Jordan replied.

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Source: HIS Education