Early reviews for Ben Affleck’s “Air” suggest that the “Argo” director has another hit on his hands. After spending years devoting the bulk of his time to working on DC movies, fans and critics alike seem thrilled to see Affleck focusing on adult-oriented films again. But while “Air” is based on the true story of Nike executives trying to sign Michael Jordan to an endorsement deal, it’s not exactly an authorized biopic.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck explained that the prevalence of books and documentaries about Nike meant that he didn’t feel obligated to involve the company in his film.

“I did not have a conversation with Nike because I didn’t feel the same sense of personal responsibility [as I did to Michael Jordan] because it’s not a history of Nike,” Affleck said. “There’s interviews and books about that.”

That said, Affleck went out of his way to consult...