LeBron James Enlists Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler to Produce Space Jam Sequel

by Dana Samuel

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is teaming up with LeBron James to finally make a Space Jam sequel. The original, released in 1996, starred Michael Jordan, with cameos from other NBA stars and characters from Looney Tunes; it grossed more than $250 million worldwide (making it the highest-grossing basketball movie of all time, according to THR).

THR reports that the film is reportedly going to begin production in 2019, during the NBA off-season; Coogler will be the producer of the sequel and Random Acts of Flyness creator Terence Nance will direct.

Coogler's work on Black Panther was not only groundbreaking, but the film broke several box office records and it has become the highest grossing film by a black director.

James is a huge Black Panther fan. “I loved his vision," he told THR, "so for Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it’s amazing. ... The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie ... 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.”

This project has been highly anticipated for years, and we have our fingers crossed for more details to be revealed soon.