Over two decades afterSpace Jamdebuted in theaters,Warner Bros.and LeBron James have teamed up to bring the Looney Tunes back to the silver screen for another game of basketball. Now, the athlete empowerment brand Uninterrupted has released a new sneak peek video that features LeBron James in the new Tune Squad uniforms forSpace Jam: A New Legacy.
Released in 1996 to box office success,Space Jamfollowed Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals as they recruit retiredNBA player Michael Jordanfor a basketball game against the alien invaders known as the Monstars, who threatened to enslave the beloved cartoons as attractions at their theme park if they lose the match. While the Looney Tunes challenged the Monstars to a basketball game expecting to easily defeat the tiny weaklings and secure their freedom, the extra-terrestrials transformed themselves into gargantuan beasts by stealing the talent of several well-known basketball players. The events of the film were presented as a fictionalized reason for Jordan’s return to basketball following his NBA retirement and stint withMinor League Baseball.
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InSpace Jam: A New Legacy, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers willplay a fictional version of himselfin a similar role to that of Jordan’s in the original film. James, whose previous acting credits includeTrainwreck, will star opposite Sonequa Martin-Green as Savannah James and Don Cheadle in an undisclosed role. As with the original film,Space Jam 2will feature cameo appearances by real-world basketball players, including Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kyle Kuzma, Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, and Chiney Ogwumike.
Attempts to produce aSpace Jamsequel started as early as 1997, but the initial plan was canceled by Warner Bros. afterMichael Jordan decided against returning. Alternative ideas for a sequel were set aside in favor of a follow-up film titledLooney Tunes: Back in Actionwith Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman starring opposite the Looney Tunes. However,Back in Actionbombed at the box office upon its 2003 release and consequently killed any chances for aSpace Jamsequel until the LeBron James film was first announced in 2014. Over the course of theSpace Jamsequel’s development with LeBron James attached, directors Justin Lin and Terence Nance signed and dropped out on separate occasions before production finally started with Malcolm D. Lee helming the project from a script co-written byBlack Pantherdirector Ryan Coogler, who also serves as producer.
While a generation of Looney Tunes fans, particularly those who grew up in the ’90s, holdSpace Jamin high regard, critics were harsher on the film when it debuted in theaters. Consequently, feelings towards the upcoming sequel range from excitement to apathy.
Regardless, the Looney Tunes continue to amuse fans as they wait for theSpace Jamsequel with the recent release of a new series of animated shorts exclusive to HBO Max. However, the new series also upset some fans after showrunner Peter Browngardt confirmed the creators decidedagainst using guns in the new cartoons, despite firearms being featured frequently in the classic shorts.
Space Jam: A New Legacywill be released in theaters on August 04, 2025.
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