LeBron James hits the cinematic court, updating a beloved classic and shooting for the Hollywood A-list.
For yearsLeBron Jamesblocked questions about the most animated and top secret moment of his career.
But now he’s wide open.
Kwaku Alston/Warner Bros.
“The Goon Squad is probably the best team ever assembled in basketball history.”
What superteam has he not defeated, what stadium full of booing fans has he not conquered?
Hollywood royalty like Batman and King Kong courtside, for one.
Justin Lubin/Warner Bros.
Not to mention the Goon Squad’s powered-up roster of pros.
EnterSpace Jam: A New Legacy.
“If you say theatrical movie,Space Jamis it,” directorMalcolm D. Leeinsists.
Warner Bros. Pictures
TheSpace Jamfranchise has been here before.
Twenty-five years ago, the original was more than a surprise slam dunk it was a pop culture juggernaut.
Warner Bros. hoped to followSpace Jamwith a sequel.
Warner Bros. Pictures
“LeBron is arguably in that category.
Now, there’s probably no LeBron without Jordan, and I’m sure he would admit that.
But he’s a once-in-a-generation player.
I love who LeBron is as a man, as an athlete, as an activist.”
That last bit is where James has carved out a unique legacy.
“I didn’t think I was ready to do anything of that magnitude,” James admits.
“I wanted to continue to focus on my game and give it as much as I could.”
While doing that, he also expanded his footprint as a businessman and media mogul.
The game changer in terms of acting, though, came whenAmy SchumerandJudd ApatowcastJames in 2015’sTrainwreck.
“Bill Hadersaid he was really funny and a great guy when he hostedSNL.
One weekend, Bill and I took him to lunch and pitched him the idea for his character.
He got it immediately.
He’s funny from take 1.”
“There’s always going to be conversations about LeBron trying to do everything Michael [did].
But I’ve gotten older, and you know who you are.
You know what you stand for.”
Lee (Girls Trip) would later sign on as director.
“That was the greatest thing in basketball history for me,” he says.
“I was like, ‘What more can happen?'”
How about being cast as James’ son?
“I cried tears of joy,” Joe remembers.
TheStar Trek: Discoveryactress says the group quickly bonded overJames' favorite food.
Oh yes, the story!
Cheadle doesn’t consider Al G a bad guy (what bad guy does?
), but rather “an A.I.
with a chip on his shoulder,” says the MCU veteran.
This being aSpace Jammovie, a basketball game settles things once and for all.
They will be in good Warner Bros. company.
“People want to be a part of it, because it’s timeless.”
(Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Diana Taurasi are among the hoopersreportedly costarring.)
New Legacy, filmed over the last two NBA off-seasons, forced an oft-grueling schedule for James.
“It’s definitely different from basketball,” James says.
“A lot of long days.
I would go train around 3:30 a.m. for about two hours.
And then I would go on set and start preparing.
There were some days that would go into the wee hours of the night.
You always had to be ready.”
Including for some muscle-memory tests.
“You always get away with a couple [baskets].
And then [he] shows you that you have no chance.”
“I wanted to dive into the character, even though I was playing LeBron James.”
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Although James opted against an acting coach onTrainwreck, Lee and Cheadle schooled him onNew Legacy.
“Just like in the NBA, I like to be coached by my coaches,” James explains.
“I was the same way on set.”
He’s got enough shine!"
Everyone involved is quick to stress that this is no sequel, thatNew Legacywill stand on its own.
Let’s have that debate."
Don’t take this personally, MJ, but for Lee, there’s no debate.
“Space Jam: A New Legacyis a better movie thanSpace Jam,” he declares.
“LeBron’s got that going for him.”
“It’s something Mike created and is his,” he says.
“I held that with a lot of responsibility.”
That’s all, folks!
