Every body get up it’s time to Jam Ya’ll! Welcome to the Jam, after a year of speculation the two time NBA Champion, four time league MVP, and two time NBA Finals MVP: the King Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavilers has officially agreed to star in Space Jam 2 at Warner Brothers. Word is that former Fast and the Furious director: Justin Lin is in talks to direct with no release date confirmed.
Even as Charlotte Hornets fan whose team just got eliminated from the NBA playoffs in a 7 game series by Lebron’s former team the Miami Heat, it is hard as a child of the 90’s not to get excited for this NBA news. Growing up the original Space Jam starring Michael Jordan and Bill Murray along side the looney tunes in a high stake basketball game against the Monstars was a quintessential part of my childhood. The soundtrack was incredible, the toys and clothing where everywhere and nothing was bigger than the Jordan brand in 90’s.
The question now will be if Lebron and Lin can recapture the magic that so many 20 somethings now remember so fondly. One big decision by WB here will be the animation style, I for one hope they return to the classic 2-D animation style to play on the nostalgia factor rather than going with something more modern. After jokes and rumors of this film so many years ago, it is truly epic to see all these moving pieces come together for a modern rendition of the 90’s classic. There will be haters who will criticize the King for walking in MJ’s foot steps, but truth be told he is the only NBA star since Jordan who could take on this mantle due to his global icon status. Anyone who follows Lebron also knows he isn’t just an athlete, much like Jordan he is a brand. Lebron might not be at the level of MJ when it comes to branding, but his brand is also very different as evidenced by his brilliant comedic role in last summer’s Amy Schumer comedy: Train Wreck.
Please let us know how excited you are to see Lebron in Space Jam 2 in the comments below or tweet me @thereelbradbell