Space Jam: A New Legacy director Malcolm D. Lee strived to create a video game experience on the long-awaited live-action film. The standalone sequel to 1996’s Space Jam is slated to be released both in theatres and on HBO Max.
Space Jam: A New Legacy will see a fictionalized version of LeBron James attempt to save his son Dom (Cedric Joe) from a rogue A.I. named Al G Rhythm (Don Cheadle). To save his son, the four-time NBA champion must defeat AI-G’s basketball team. The live-action comedy features iconic Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, as well as cameos from NBA All-Stars Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and Chris Paul.
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In 2019, Lee notably took over the directing duties from Space Jam 2 writer Terence Nance (The Burial of Kojo), who left the project over creative differences with the studio and producers. Lee, who most notably directed Girls Trip and Night School, told SLAM that he wanted Space Jam 2 to have a technical and enjoyable video game feel. “I wanted to make it a very immersive experience, you know, as if we were all at the game as audience members,” said the writer-director. The film notably features a combination of live-action, traditional animation, and 3D CGI effects. Space Jam 2 will lean heavily into the digital server verse concept as James and the Looney Tunes will reportedly be taken into the worlds of The Matrix, Mad Max, Austin Powers, and the DC universe.
Space Jam: A New Legacy has a tech-centric story considering Dom is interested in video game design and wants to attend a gaming convention instead of a basketball camp. “It’s a family and it’s a father and son who are having a bit of a disconnect because the father was like, 'I was successful doing this one thing, which was basketball, and you should do that too,'” said Lee, while adding, “And the kid is more interested in coding and building video games.” The filmmaker noted that his goal was to make the “so-called African-American movie” universal and show Black children engaging with computer science since it is rarely seen in cinema.
Cheadle recently made headlines for asserting that James had more acting to do than Michael Jordan did in the original Space Jam. The Marvel actor stated that James took the role seriously and filmed the movie while nursing a serious groin injury he suffered during the NBA season. While A New Legacy is the first film that James has led, the Laker star had a memorable supporting role in Judd Apatow’s hit comedy Trainwreck. James ironically passed on the opportunity to star in a Space Jam sequel 15 years ago because he wasn’t ready to do anything of that magnitude just yet.
Joe Pytka’s Space Jam saw Jordan help the Looney Tunes defeat the villainous Monstars in a game of hoops. The ensemble cast included Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Bill Murray, and Charles Barkley. While Space Jam received mixed reviews, it grossed over $90 million domestically.
Space Jam: A New Legacy is now available in theaters and on HBO Max.
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Source: SLAM