LeBron James Will Star in ‘Space Jam 2’

Now he’s definitely reached MJ status.

The never-ending debate over who should be called the next Michael Jordan is finally over—it’s LeBron. The announcement that LBJ will star in a Space Jam sequel seals the deal. 

Becoming the next MJ was never about on-the-court dominance. It was primarily about off-the-court ubiquity and once the sequel to the beloved 1996 film is made, LeBron will be more of cultural icon than he already is. That’s how you reach MJ status. 

The Hollywood Reporter has some details on the long-rumored project today. Justin Lin, who directed four of the Fast and Furious movies, is going to run point. He’ll direct and co-write the script with two other guys, one of whom penned the screenplay for the 2013 Jason Bateman comedy Bad Words. That should tell us a little something about what to expect from Space Jam 2. There will be some over-the-top action and little boundary pushing when it comes to the comedy. 

This movie has been a long time coming, with rumors swirling for years that Warner Bros wanted to ride the nostalgia train with Space Jam 2. When LeBron inked a deal with the studio last July, the heat ratcheted up. Now that there’s a script and a director, all we need is for LeBron to finish up with basketball so he can get on set. 

Given the way he’s been shooting, that should be sooner rather than later.