There are two camps when it comes to the 1990s classic Space Jam.
There are those who can see it for what it is: a cheesy yet hilariously self-conscious cult classic which saw NBA legend Michael Jordan team up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes in an intergalactic basketball game. Then there are those who are unable to see the light.
There are no prizes here for guessing where I stand on the film. Yes, there are scripting problems, the plot makes no sense at all, and it couldn’t be more 90s if the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air himself made a cameo; yet for many basketball fans of my generation, it still holds a special place in our hearts.
So, imagine my anticipation in finding out that the long-awaited sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy, is well in the works. The NBA’s modern-day equivalent to Jordan, LeBron James, will star in the film, alongside Looney Tunes voice artists Eric Bauza and Jeff Bergman. We can safely assume that there will be no risk of the sequel deviating from its source material.
Aside from production and writing credits for Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler, we currently know very little about the follow-up. Don Cheadle and Xosha Roquemore will provide live action performances presumably in the same vein as those provided by Bill Murray and Wayne Knight in the original.
We are also likely to see a number of NBA players team up with James and the Tune Squad. James’ Los Angeles Lakers teammates, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma, as well as a host of NBA and WNBA players, are rumoured to make cameo appearances.
One thing that we know for sure is that the iconic Tune Squad kit is getting an upgrade. This comes after James’ ‘Uninterrupted’ brand shared a 12-second teaser showing the new uniform. A change from the original white jersey with its centralised logo, the new kit matches vibrant colours with a decentred orange semi-circle in homage to the classic Looney Tunes rings.
With the film being slated for release next summer, we can assume that more news of casting and plot isn’t far away. But that’s all for now folks! So, lace up your Jordan 11s and prepare to be transported back to the 90s on a nostalgia trip like no other.
Words by Jim Norman
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