But after many false starts the long-awaited follow-up is finally happening with LeBron James, and he’s going to have some help putting together his team from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that after years of different players and directors signing up for a sequel, the movie will dribble forward with Coogler producing and HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness creator Terence Nance directing. The movie is expected to begin filming in 2019 after the NBA season ends in June, and, per an update from Entertainment Weekly, is expected to hit theaters on July 16, 2021.
While it’s unclear which NBA stars will appear alongside the film’s star LeBron James—Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and others accompanied Michael Jordan in what is still the most successful basketball movie in box office history—a tweet from Spring Hill Entertainment confirmed at least one original member of the Tune Squad will lace up the sneakers once again.
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— SpringHill Ent. (@SpringHillEnt) September 19, 2018
Good things cartoons don’t age or we’d think Bugs Bunny was a little too old to play in a senior league, let alone against the Monstars.
So why is this movie finally happening? Maybe it’s because LeBron James, who was genuinely fantastic in Trainwreck, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this past off-season, making it easier for him to work on the movie while playing so close to Hollywood. Or maybe it has to do with the debate over who is the greatest player of all time, him or Jordan. Can you really be the GOAT if you haven’t saved the planet from a bunch of intergalactic cartoons who stole your fellow players powers?
Uh, I don’t think so, Doc.
Featured Image: Warner Bros.