King LeBron James, Legacy continues to broaden, getting a lead role in the iconic movie franchise ‘Space Jams”.
The Original Space Jams debuted in the United States on Nov 1996, staring Chicago Bulls Legendary Shooting Guard Michael Jordan.
The movie included various other superstars recognizable in the NBA circles today, such as at the time, Phoenix Suns Power Forward Charles Barkley, Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird, New York Knicks Center, Patrick Ewing.
Warner Bros. Feature Animations was the driving force behind the movie’s creation and with the mastermind Joe Pytka as director.
Pushing the movie to gross 250 Million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Basketball Film of all time while at the same time remaining in the hearts of every true NBA fanboy and girl
Space Jams successfully combined Jordan’s NBA Career and the popular cartoon series Looney Toones. The movie fused Animation and Live-Action, which was a technical Achievement at the time; remember, we’re talking the 90’s. Let’s spoil a little bit of the original film’s plot to get an idea of the Box Office smash hit.
The film begins, set in 1973, following a young Michael Jordan asking his father what university to commit to. Fast-forwarding through Jordan’s career, the plot lands on a 1993 press conference where Jordan announced his retirement from professional basketball to pursue a professional baseball career.
In outer space, the amusement park “Moron Mountain” faces hard times, and its owner Mr. Swackhammer sends minions to take the Looney Toones as a new attraction for the park. When they arrived, Bugs Bunny and the other Looney tunes challenge them to a game of basketball. The minions find NBA superstars and steal their talents to play the Looney Tunes.
Jordan, while golfing, is thrown into a Looney Toones world to regain the talents of the fallen superstars. Jordan is successful then comes out of retirement to have the final three-on-three showdown of the movie.
Before James was picked for the role, names like Action Movie Superstar Jackie Chan, Stock Car Race Legend Jeff Gordon, or skateboard superstar Tony Hawk have floated around for the role.
A legend in his own right, James, excited to take the role, became the ideal choice to wear the crown.
With Malcolm D. Lee, the cousin of Spike Lee directing this film, and Lebron James listed as a Producer. Space Jams: A New Legacy is poised to be another box office hit.
The Looney Toons cast will be returning with a few new generation NBA All-Stars such as Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard, including some WNBA All-Stars like Diana Taurasi Nneka Ogwumike, and Chiney Ogwumike.
Before we close, let us give a teaser of the plot of “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” coming out on Jul 18. James and his younger son Dom, an inspiring video game developer, are trapped in a virtual rogue space A.I. James working together with the Looney Toones, face the “Goon Squad” in basketball to escape the A.I.
“This is not a sequel. The movie stands on its own. But, More importantly, this movie is going to surprise a lot of people.” Said, James
