Basketball star LeBron James is officially set as the lead in “Space Jam 2,” the upcoming sequel to the classic ’90s Looney Tunes adventure.
James will film his role in the movie next year during the NBA’s off season.
“Black Panther” and “Creed” Director Ryan Coogler is set to help produce the film.
“I loved his vision,” James told The Hollywood Reporter about Coogler’s involvement.
“So, for Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it’s amazing.”
The basketball star added, “The ‘Space Jam’ collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie … It’s so much bigger. I’d just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don’t just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people.”
The director of “Space Jam 2” will be Terence Nance.
A promo image for the movie was released through social media on Wednesday.
The original “Space Jam,” released back in 1996, was a mix between live action and animation.
In the film, Jordan plays a version of himself.
The Looney Tunes need him to lead their basketball team to victory in a championship in which their freedom hangs in the balance. The movie, beloved by kids of all ages, went on to gross over $90 million domestically and over $230 million worldwide.
“Space Jam” has grown only more popular as time has passed.
Even with all of the anticipation over this sequel, it’s unlikely that anti-Trumper James will lead it to the success of the original movie.
Jordan stayed mostly away from politics during his time on the basketball court and kept his focus on the game. He was — and remains — a unifying figure.
He even recently donated $2 million to Hurricane Florence relief.
James is incredibly charitable and an admirable basketball player, but the constant shots he takes at the president and his supporters undercut that good work a bit. James is a divisive figure — especially compared to Jordan — and it’s likely many parents will let their kids skip this sequel.
If Warner Bros. — the company behind the picture — wanted guaranteed success for a “Space Jam” sequel, it would be wise to simply hire Jordan again, given that he remains such a beloved and unifying figure.
Watch the trailer for the original “Space Jam” right below:
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