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LeBron James Teams Up With Ryan Coogler Of ‘Black Panther’ For ‘Space Jam’ Sequel

James will star, Coogler will produce, and Terence Nance of HBO’s “Random Acts of Flyness” will direct, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
LeBron James and Ryan Coogler
David Liam Kyle via Getty Images / Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
LeBron James and Ryan Coogler

LeBron James has acquired a dream team.

The NBA star will play the lead in the highly anticipated sequel to the 1996 blockbuster “Space Jam,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

But the fun doesn’t end there.

James is teaming up with “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, who will produce, and HBO’s “Random Acts of Flyness” creator Terence Nance, who will direct the follow-up to the semi-animated hit, which starred basketball legend Michael Jordan and the iconic “Looney Toons” character Bugs Bunny.

James’ production company SpringHill Entertainment hinted at the news by posting an adorable locker room photo on Wednesday.

Production on the Warner Bros. film is slated for 2019, during the NBA offseason. James first delighted film audiences in the 2015 Amy Schumer comedy “Trainwreck,” and has a voice role in the upcoming animated film “Smallfoot.”

Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2015, Warner Bros. announced a partnership with SpringHill Entertainment for projects in television, film and original digital content. James has been rumored to be attached to “Space Jam 2” for years.

“Fast & Furious” director Justin Lin had previously been reported to be directing the “Space Jam” sequel, but Nance was later reported to be in talks with the studio.

James told THR that he loved Coogler’s vision for “Black Panther” — which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide and became the most successful film with a black cast ever.

“The ‘Space Jam’ collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie,” James told THR. “It’s so much bigger. I’d just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don’t just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people.”

No word yet on whether other prominent NBA players will make cameos in the film (Charles Barkley and Larry Bird both made appearances in the original movie). But hopefully the second coming of “Space Jam” will give someone an excuse to revamp the film’s official website — which has not been updated in a loooooong time.

Screengrab of the official site for “Space Jam.”
Space Jams
Screengrab of the official site for “Space Jam.”