Not much is known about SPACE JAM 2 except it comes a long time after the 1996 original film and it stars NBA powerhouse LeBron James, while also featuring cameos from other NBA stars. Produced by Ryan Coogler, SPACE JAM 2 is now making a bit of casting news thanks for another actor in the film, Paul Scheer.
During an episode of the "Clip City Podcast" Scheer revealed that Don Cheadle will play a villain in the movie although the following information has not be confirmed by Cheadle or Warner Bros.
"Actually Don Cheadle, who I do 'Black Monday' with, he's the bad guy in 'Space Jam,' and he said LeBron's really great. He was great in 'Train Wreck' too."
Cheadle has been attached to the Malcolm D. Lee sequel in some capacity for awhile but it wasn't exactly clear who he would be playing. Some speculated that he would be appearing as a celebrity friend of LeBron James, much like Bill Murray did with Michael Jordan in SPACE JAM. Cheadle was recently asked what he was exactly doing in the film but the actor said he could not say. Perhaps this isn't news that Scheer was supposed to spill but he certainly did.
Whether Cheadle will be a live-action star or simply doing voiceover work is also unknown. It's possible that Cheadle could be a member of the MonStars alien basketball team that challenges Lebron James' team. Or he could be playing their alien manager, a role played by Danny Devito in the original film. Cheadle is no stranger to voice work having voiced Donald Duck on the Ducktales reboot.
The original SPACE JAM was an upbeat tale of basketball legend Michael Jordan teaming up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes characters to win a match against an alien team that has stolen the playing talent of the NBA's biggest stars. The film was a box office hit back in 1996, grossing $230.4 million worldwide on an $80 million budget.
SPACE JAM is someting I remember fondly as a child but it's not a film that has really grown with me so the idea of a sequel isn't high on my list but I thought LeBron James had solid chemistry with Bill Hader in TRAINWRECK & I'm pretty much down with anything that Don Cheadle might be involved in.
Are YOU looking forward to SPACE JAM 2?