LeBron James has recruited Ryan Coogler to produce Space Jam 2. Early reports indicate that the Black Panther director has ideas that would take the sequel in an interesting direction. This will be Coogler’s first project since Black Panther was released earlier this year.
“The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie,” said James in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
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Space Jam, released in 1996, centered around Michael Jordan just after he retired from basketball to try his hand at baseball. Jordan is then recruited by the Looney Tunes, who’ve challenged a group of aliens to a game of basketball to determine their freedom. It’s a bonkers movie, even before Bill Murray shows up as Bill Murray. The movie has a nostalgic spot in many millennial hearts, and there’s been talk of a sequel starring James for years.
James has been expanding into the entertainment industry in recent years, appearing in a supporting role in Trainwreck and executive producing and starring in the HBO docuseries The Shop.
Space Jam 2 will be directed by Terence Nance (The Oversimplification Of Her Body) and is expected to film in 2019.