On Saturday, Warner Bros. dropped the first trailer for Malcolm D Lee’s Space Jam: A New Legacy.
The film is a greatly anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing basketball film of all time, Space Jam, released 25 years ago.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball star LeBron James will be replacing former protagonist and NBA superstar, Michael Jordan, in this nostalgic sequel to the 1996 semi-animated film.
Space Jam: A New Legacy follows LeBron James and the beloved Looney Tunes squad as they prepare for an all-or-nothing basketball match against the Goon Squad—originally the Monstars—in an attempt to reclaim James’ abducted son Dom (Cedric Joe). Dom is taken hostage by artificial intelligence villain ‘Al-G Rhythm’, portrayed by Don Cheadle.
Unlike the original, audiences should prepare for a narrative that goes beyond basketball as the film explores themes surrounding the complexities of a father and son relationship.
Director Lee shared: “This transformational journey is a manic mash-up of two worlds that reveals just how far some parents will go to connect with their kids.”
The trailer offers a glimpse into the Warner 3000 entertainment ‘Server-verse’ as Lebron catapults through a wormhole resembling the iconic Looney Tunes red circle. The sequel embodies a multiverse complex with two and three-dimensional hybrid animation and holographic characters to create an intergalactic simulation.
LeBron James’ iconic slam dunk with Dwayne Wade against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 features in the trailer as a thrilling tribute to LeBron’s legacy—this time with Lola Bunny assisting.
The vibrant trailer is essentially a hall of fame, including cameos from Game of Thrones’ Khal Drogo and IT’s Pennywise. Even the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange make an appearance, attracting attention from viewers outside of the franchise’s fanbase.
Lola Bunny returns to our screens, this time voiced by Zendaya and lacking any form of over-sexualisation.
Lee stated: “Lola was not politically correct…It’s important to reflect the authenticity of strong, capable female characters.”
Additionally, Pepe le Pew has been cut from the sequel after his harassing behaviour towards female characters came under fire for perpetuating rape culture.
The trailer has gained over 16 million views and triggered a mixture of enthusiastic and sceptical responses.
Space Jam: A New Legacy will be available to stream in the UK on 23 July, 2021.
Words by Alexandria Slater
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