Tucker just wrapped up filming the Ben Affleck-directed feature film about Nike’s pursuit of basketball legend Michael Jordan. One of the most significant business agreements in sports history was the multibillion dollar partnership.
Affleck portrays Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike. Tucker is portrayed by Howard White, the main character who uses his connections to entice Jordan to the negotiations. White is a rising executive at Nike and a former standout at the University of Maryland. Sonny Vaccaro, a legendary figure in sports marketing, is portrayed by Matt Damon.
Additionally included in the cast are Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Viola Davis, Tom Papa, Matthew Maher, Chris Messina, and Julius Tennon.
Although it hasn’t been officially announced, the film’s working title was initially thought to be “Air Jordan.” Jordan isn’t depicted in the movie; instead, he is mentioned as a mythical, unseen figure.
“We just finished the movie, it’s coming out on Amazon (Prime Video),” Tucker says. “I don’t know when. But we had a great cast with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, a bunch of great co-stars.”
Among many other top-grossing films, Chris Tucker is renowned for his roles opposite Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour” and Ice Cube in the 1995 comedy “Friday.”
Life in Las Vegas
Tucker lives in Las Vegas, where he also has some well-known neighbors. About 15 years ago, when Tucker first arrived in Vegas, he just so happened to move in next door to a Jackson 5 founding member.
“So I’ve got Jackie Jackson, the oldest Jackson brother, he’s my neighbor, and he shows up at my house,” Tucker says. “I know right away it’s him. He’s got that soft, Jackson voice (whispers highly), ‘Hey Chris? Chris? You here? You home?’ I have to say, ‘What!? Jackie!? Speak up! I can barely hear you!”
In her Lake Las Vegas days, Tucker also resided close to Celine Dion. He is also capable of a passable impression of her.
The seasoned comic was influenced by Rat Pack-era superstar headliners Redd Foxx, Sammy Davis Jr., and other legendary performers from Las Vegas. Richard Pryor’s furious exit from the stage at the Aladdin in 1967, where Pryor had cut his set instead of polishing it, left an impression on him (Dean Martin was among the stars in attendance that night).
“He changed his whole act after that,” Tucker says. “There is a great history of comedians who came out here, in the ’50s and ’60s, great entertainers. It’s just been a place I’ve always been nostalgic about.”
In the middle to late 2000s, when George Wallace was the main attraction at the Flamingo Showroom, Tucker played unbilled sets in Wallace’s show. More recently, he performed at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club and appeared as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in April 2019, which was taped at the Zappos Theater.
For roughly four years, Tucker has been Wynn Las Vegas’ headlining act. He adores the space.
“It’s is really a good place to play, it seems big, but it really plays small to me,” the comic says. “It feels like a club. It’s a beautiful place, it has the prettiest dressing room I’ve seen in my life. You’ve got a big picture of Frank Sinatra and all that stuff (laughs). It’s my style.”
