Everything We Know About the Rumored ‘Space Jam’ Sequel
When is the movie coming out? Will LeBron be in it? Has Michael's Secret Stuff been added to the list of banned substances? Here's what we know so far.
In the 22 years since its release, Space Jam has only grown in popularity thanks to its memorable quotes, dope soundtrack, and effortless blend of sports, heart, and humor. The film is so beloved, that naturally many have wondered if a sequel could be coming, with a new star potentially taking Michael Jordan’s place to team up with Bugs, Daffy, and the rest of Toon Squad against the might Monstars. But is a sequel actually coming or is it nothing more than a fantasy fueled by online rumors? Here is everything we currently know about Space Jam 2.
Who’s In It?
Several NBA stars, including Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin, have been attached to take MJ’s place in the franchise but for the better part of a decade, the overwhelming majority of Space Jam 2 rumors have been about LeBron James. This should come as no surprise, given that James is by far the biggest superstar on the planet and the best player since Jordan.
And off the court, James has shown himself to be a pretty damn good actor, especially for the extremely low bar set for athletes. In 2015, James played the role of Bill Hader’s supportive best friend in Trainwreck and was considered by many to be the best part of the entire movie. Plus, now that he’s in LA for at least the next four years, he would be able to shoot the movie during an offseason with relative ease. The only problem? James has never actually confirmed his interest in being the face of Space Jam 2. For now, it’s all just internet speculation.
Beyond James, the only player who has really been linked to the possible sequel is Griffin, as he has confirmed that he would love to be involved with the film if he was approached. If the film does get made, it will almost certainly be packed with cameos from past and present NBA stars but for now, we don’t really know who that would be.
Is it possible Jordan could return for the sequel? It’s not out of the realm of possibility but given MJ’s well-documented ego, it seems unlikely he would be okay playing second banana. The real question is whether or not Bill Murray will return, as he was one of the best parts of the original movie.
Who’s Making It?
This is where things get a little more concrete and exciting, as Justin Lin, the mind behind most of the good Fast and Furious movies, signed on to direct the sequel in 2016. Lin was also hired by Warner Bros. to write the film’s script along with Andrew Dodge (Bad Words) and Alfredo Botello (Hollywood Adventures).
What’s It About?
The internet is swirling with rumors about the plot of Space Jam 2 but, in reality, there are few plot details known about the Space Jam sequel at this point. That is mainly because there doesn’t seem to be much of a plot to speak of at this point, as the script is still very early in the development phase. In an interview with IGN, Lin said that he was still working on a script, as the unique nature of creating a movie like Space Jam 2.
“I’ve been really wanting to push that genre but to do that you need the right amount of time,” Lin said. “So there’s a logistical challenge, but also creatively to do a sequel 20 years later with a new cast. I feel like I’ve gone done nine different iterations already and we’re going to keep going, but we’re getting closer every day.”
When Can We See It?
Given the fact that Space Jam 2 currently exists as little more than an idea, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is no release date for the film. There isn’t even a vague year attached to it and that probably won’t change until a script is finished or James officially joins the movie.