Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Photo:Dan Doperalski for VarietyMichael B. JordanandBen Affleckare reflecting on their Hollywood friendship.The stars sat down for a conversation inVariety’sDirectors on Directorsseries, published Wednesday, and recalled how they first became friends after Jordan, 36, had a breakout role inRyan Coogler’s 2013 movieFruitvale Stationafter its premiere at theSundance Film Festival.“I remember you andMatt [Damon]had hit me and were basically like, ‘Mike, your life is getting ready to change,’ " Jordan told Affleck, 51. “You kinda just talked me through the movie and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy actually watched the film and he likes my work.’ ““And from there, it was just like a big brother–little brother kind of relationship,” he said.“To me I just remember so clearly, I saw the movie and I was like, ‘This guy is a star,’ " Affleck said.Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"It was so clear to me: This guy’s just going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up,” Affleck added. “And be ready, because I know there’s a lot of things that come along that are difficult that nobody tells you. And I had a friend doing it with me [in Damon].“Affleck said he originally wanted to connect with Jordan as his star rose because he knew from experience that it can be “a very lonely experience sometimes.““I was like, ‘Hey, man, if you want to talk to somebody who would give you honest feedback … I may not be right, [but] I always tell you the truth,’ " he said. “I love the relationship we have. Now, I just brag about it. ‘Michael Jordan’s my friend. I know him.’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"People don’t realize how big of an impact that can make on somebody, especially when you don’t know what’s coming next,” Jordan added.During the conversation, Affleck praised Jordan forstepping out as a first-time directorwith this year’sCreed III. The pair also joked about another famousMichael Jordan, whose life and legacy in basketball and the sneaker industry Affleck’s latest movieAircenters on.Michael B. Jordan in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"I was thinking aboutAiron the way over here, what I took away from it. I remember when we were going to do it, Imet the other Michael Jordan,” Affleck joked. “That’s kind of dope that there’s now two Michael Jordans.““I appreciate that. I’m on the Michael Mount Rushmore a little bit,” Jordan responded.
Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Photo:Dan Doperalski for Variety
Dan Doperalski for Variety
Michael B. JordanandBen Affleckare reflecting on their Hollywood friendship.The stars sat down for a conversation inVariety’sDirectors on Directorsseries, published Wednesday, and recalled how they first became friends after Jordan, 36, had a breakout role inRyan Coogler’s 2013 movieFruitvale Stationafter its premiere at theSundance Film Festival.“I remember you andMatt [Damon]had hit me and were basically like, ‘Mike, your life is getting ready to change,’ " Jordan told Affleck, 51. “You kinda just talked me through the movie and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy actually watched the film and he likes my work.’ ““And from there, it was just like a big brother–little brother kind of relationship,” he said.“To me I just remember so clearly, I saw the movie and I was like, ‘This guy is a star,’ " Affleck said.Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"It was so clear to me: This guy’s just going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up,” Affleck added. “And be ready, because I know there’s a lot of things that come along that are difficult that nobody tells you. And I had a friend doing it with me [in Damon].“Affleck said he originally wanted to connect with Jordan as his star rose because he knew from experience that it can be “a very lonely experience sometimes.““I was like, ‘Hey, man, if you want to talk to somebody who would give you honest feedback … I may not be right, [but] I always tell you the truth,’ " he said. “I love the relationship we have. Now, I just brag about it. ‘Michael Jordan’s my friend. I know him.’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"People don’t realize how big of an impact that can make on somebody, especially when you don’t know what’s coming next,” Jordan added.During the conversation, Affleck praised Jordan forstepping out as a first-time directorwith this year’sCreed III. The pair also joked about another famousMichael Jordan, whose life and legacy in basketball and the sneaker industry Affleck’s latest movieAircenters on.Michael B. Jordan in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety"I was thinking aboutAiron the way over here, what I took away from it. I remember when we were going to do it, Imet the other Michael Jordan,” Affleck joked. “That’s kind of dope that there’s now two Michael Jordans.““I appreciate that. I’m on the Michael Mount Rushmore a little bit,” Jordan responded.
Michael B. JordanandBen Affleckare reflecting on their Hollywood friendship.
The stars sat down for a conversation inVariety’sDirectors on Directorsseries, published Wednesday, and recalled how they first became friends after Jordan, 36, had a breakout role inRyan Coogler’s 2013 movieFruitvale Stationafter its premiere at theSundance Film Festival.
“I remember you andMatt [Damon]had hit me and were basically like, ‘Mike, your life is getting ready to change,’ " Jordan told Affleck, 51. “You kinda just talked me through the movie and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy actually watched the film and he likes my work.’ "
“And from there, it was just like a big brother–little brother kind of relationship,” he said.
“To me I just remember so clearly, I saw the movie and I was like, ‘This guy is a star,’ " Affleck said.
Michael B. Jordan and Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety
“It was so clear to me: This guy’s just going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up,” Affleck added. “And be ready, because I know there’s a lot of things that come along that are difficult that nobody tells you. And I had a friend doing it with me [in Damon].”
Affleck said he originally wanted to connect with Jordan as his star rose because he knew from experience that it can be “a very lonely experience sometimes.”
“I was like, ‘Hey, man, if you want to talk to somebody who would give you honest feedback … I may not be right, [but] I always tell you the truth,’ " he said. “I love the relationship we have. Now, I just brag about it. ‘Michael Jordan’s my friend. I know him.’ "
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ben Affleck in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety
“People don’t realize how big of an impact that can make on somebody, especially when you don’t know what’s coming next,” Jordan added.
During the conversation, Affleck praised Jordan forstepping out as a first-time directorwith this year’sCreed III. The pair also joked about another famousMichael Jordan, whose life and legacy in basketball and the sneaker industry Affleck’s latest movieAircenters on.
Michael B. Jordan in ‘Variety’.Dan Doperalski for Variety
“I was thinking aboutAiron the way over here, what I took away from it. I remember when we were going to do it, Imet the other Michael Jordan,” Affleck joked. “That’s kind of dope that there’s now two Michael Jordans.”
“I appreciate that. I’m on the Michael Mount Rushmore a little bit,” Jordan responded.
source: people.com
