After years of rumors surrounding a Space Jam sequel, it finally looks as though a LeBron James-led cast will be bringing the movie to life. Director Justin Lin, best known for his work on the Fast & Furious franchise, has begun co-writing a Space Jam 2 script with the intention of directing and producing the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
With Lin taking the reins and James already signed on with Warner Bros, one of the few hurdles that remains is bringing together a cast of hoop stars to star alongside LeBron. Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny obviously took center stage in the first movie, but what would the Space Jam of '96 have been without Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and Shawn Bradley having their basketball talents stolen by the Nerdlucks?
It's currently unknown if the reboot will follow a similar plotline, but considering the box office success of Jordan's Space Jam, it would be a big surprise if LeBron's didn't feature a handful of NBA stars in supporting roles. Using star power, cartoonish traits and other intangible factors as our criteria, let's break down the top options to join James in the sequel to the highest-grossing basketball film of all-time. In true All-Star (read: Monstar) game fashion, we'll assign the top five candidates to the starting lineup, while plugging in a group of worthy reserve cast members.
Backcourt Reserves: Isaiah Thomas, Zach LaVine, Kyrie Irving
First off, the notable omissions. You may be wondering why an all-world talent like Stephen Curry isn't on this list. Simply put, if the reigning league MVP is going to be in a movie, he is going to be the star. Chris Paul falls into the same bucket of player who wouldn't be bothered, particularly with his Los Angeles Clippers teammate Blake Griffin getting the shaft (more on this later). Russell Westbrook would seem to be a perfect fit given his explosive game and flamboyant personality on and off the court, but he can be axed on ego alone. If Kevin Durant could get Thunderstruck, certainly someone of his unique stylings could ink his own movie deal.
OK, onto the reserves. I think Isaiah Thomas would be great in Bogues' little-man role, but he's still a couple years away from having the name recognition necessary to grab one of the two backcourt spots. The same could be said for Zach LaVine, who famously wore a Tune Squad jersey on the way to his first slam dunk title, but is a little too green and stuck playing for a small-market team in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kyrie Irving would make sense given his flashy ball-handling, ties to LeBron and his brilliance in Pepsi's Uncle Drew mockumentaries, but I like the next two guys on this list just a little bit more.
Backcourt: Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin may not have the Monstar skills of the reserves, but it's impossible to ignore his international appeal (Space Jam: China, anyone?) and the J-Lin to J-Lin connection (both player and director are Taiwanese-American and grew up in California). The Charlotte Hornets combo guard has lost some of his hype following the Linsanity New York takeover, but he remains a cultural icon in today's game. Moreover, he has proven time and time again that he has serious acting chops.
Backcourt: James Harden
Two words: The Beard. How could you have a cartoon and not include the game's most cartoonish character? With or without his facial hair, Harden has the alien-ish look going on for him too. In all seriousness, Adidas' $200-million man has turned himself into one of the most recognizable figures in the NBA, but a supporting role would be perfect for the Houston Rockets star's first foray into Hollywood.
Frontcourt Reserves: Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Bosh, DeMarcus Cousins
Again, let's begin with notable omissions. Blake Griffin was probably the most likely candidate to join the Space Jam 2 cast coming into this season. The high-flying big man has appeared in no shortage of TV commercials, and was featured in a Jordan brand spot with Looney Tunes character Marvin the Martian. But that was before he damaged his reputation (and hand) in a fight with a Los Angeles Clippers team trainer in February. After re-injuring his quad in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Griffin will probably be cooling it on the side projects in the near future anyway. The other big frontcourt name that doesn't make the cut is Kawhi Leonard because, well, the San Antonio Spurs star just doesn't have the personality for the bright lights.
Giannis "The Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo, though possessing a supernatural wingspan, falls short for the same reasons as LaVine. There has been some banter about Tristan Thompson getting a look, but LeBron's friendship (read: the Rich Paul connection) alone wouldn't carry the plodding rebounder into serious contention. Kevin Love is the more likely Cavs big man to get the call, but his star power has faded considerably since he arrived in Cleveland. Chris Bosh might look to an acting career if an NBA return doesn't pan out, but like Wade, is probably over a big-screen reunion with LeBron. DeMarcus Cousins has all the cartoonish qualities of a Monstar, but his fiery temper is enough to scare away any production company.
Frontcourt: Carmelo Anthony
Anthony might seem too big for a supporting role, but the struggles of the New York Knicks have no doubt humbled the nine-time All-Star. Perhaps even enough to play second-fiddle to the man who beat him out for the NBA Rookie of the Year award over a decade ago. Being a longtime star in one of the NBA's largest markets helps, as does the fact that him and LeBron remain very close allies. His cartoonish look with the headband and arm-sleeves is icing on the cake.
Frontcourt: Anthony Davis
Space Jam 2 needs The Brow Just has much as it needs The Beard. Pairing Davis with Harden to form a dynamic facial-haired duo would be the modern-day spin on the Bogues-Bradley odd couple. As far as actual on-court skills go, Davis is the consensus best big man in the league today, and is a couple big splashes away from establishing himself as a bona fide NBA superstar. A little acting gig would be a great place to start.
Frontcourt: Kristaps Porzingis
A foreign-born NBA player (Vlade Divac) only had a cameo in the first movie, but with the international expansion of basketball, it makes sense to give one a more prominent role. Dirk Nowitzki is in the twilight of his career, so why not let rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis be the final member of the star-studded cast (one that should include one of his Knicks teammates)? His popularity in the New York market is undeniable, as is his appeal to the younger generation of basketball fans. Picking him over guys like Love, Cousins and Bosh may seem like a reach, but the reasons just mentioned — and his 7'3'' frame — is enough to earn him the wild-card (read: Shawn Bradley) bid.
