First look images have been released featuring LeBron James in the upcoming Space Jam: A New Legacy movie that combines live-action and animation, similar to the previous Michael Jordan film.
“It’s something Mike created and is his,” James filled in EW about the franchise. “I held that with a lot of responsibility.”
“I had that wow moment, like, ‘Mama, I’m doing this. [I’m] really shooting Space Jam,'” James said about putting the Tune Squad jersey on for the first time.
Ryan Coogler who is the producer and who is known for Marvel’s Black Panther, said, “We were reminded very quickly why the Looney Tunes work. When we watch the parts of the film [featuring] the Tunes, you have a smile come over your face because, if you’re from our generation, you miss them.”
“It was very important to me to be traditional about the Looney Tunes’ portrayals,” added New Legacy director Malcolm D. Lee says of Bugs Bunny & Co.
Speaking of Marvel, Don Cheadle, known for War Machine, also stars in the flick, but in Space Jam he plays Al G Rhythm, who puts together the Goon Squad: “Half of the fun is going into the mind of an A.I. What do they think about themselves? What do they want everyone else to see?”
The film gets released on July 16.
Space Jam: A New Legacy images:
Space Jam: A New Legacy synopsis
Welcome to the Jam! NBA champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside timeless Tune Bugs Bunny with the animated/live-action event “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” from director Malcolm D. Lee and an innovative filmmaking team including Ryan Coogler and Maverick Carter. This transformational journey is a manic mashup of two worlds that reveals just how far some parents will go to connect with their kids. When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safe by leading Bugs, Lola Bunny and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.’s digitized champions on the court: a powered-up roster of professional basketball stars as you’ve never seen them before. It’s Tunes versus Goons in the highest-stakes challenge of his life, that will redefine LeBron’s bond with his son and shine a light on the power of being yourself. The ready-for-action Tunes destroy convention, supercharge their unique talents and surprise even “King” James by playing the game their own way.
James stars alongside Oscar nominee Don Cheadle (the “Avengers” films, “Hotel Rwanda”), Khris Davis (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” TV’s “Atlanta”), Sonequa Martin-Green (TV’s “The Walking Dead,” “Star Trek: Discovery”), newcomer Cedric Joe, Jeff Bergman (“Looney Tunes Cartoons”) and Eric Bauza (“Looney Tunes Cartoons”).
Lee (“Girls Trip,” “Night School”) directs from a screenplay by Juel Taylor & Tony Rettenmaier & Keenan Coogler & Terence Nance. The film’s producers are Ryan Coogler, LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Duncan Henderson, and the executive producers are Sev Ohanian, Jamal Henderson, Allison Abbate, Jesse Ehrman, Spencer Beighley, Justin Lin, Terence Nance and Ivan Reitman.
The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Salvatore Totino (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), animation producer Troy Nethercott (“Wonder Park”), production designers Kevin Ishioka (“The Mule”), Akin McKenzie (Netflix’s “When They See Us”) and Clint Wallace (upcoming “Eternals”), editor Bob Ducsay (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”) and costume designer Melissa Bruning (“Rampage,” “War for the Planet of the Apes”). The music is by Kris Bowers (“Greenbook,” Netflix’s “Bridgerton”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Proximity/SpringHill Entertainment Production, a Malcolm D. Lee Film, “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be released in theaters nationwide on July 16, 2021 and will be available in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.
