Basketball fans and snake people alike reacted with joy on Wednesday after LeBron James announced his production company and Warner Bros. Entertainment have struck a deal on a partnership spanning film, TV and digital content.
Warner Bros., you'll recall, got Michael Jordan to star in the 1996 classic Space Jam. Because the Internet is a measured and rational place, news of James' new deal immediately led to a lot of thoughtful speculation about just one thing: ZOMG when does Space Jam 2 starring LeBron come out?
Answering that question requires reading some tea leaves, but it's possible the sequel just might bless us sooner than later.
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“LeBron James has one of the most powerful, well-known brands in the world and we are excited to be in business with him and his partner, Maverick Carter, and SpringHill Entertainment,” Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said in a statement after the deal between his company and James' SpringHill Entertainment was announced Wednesday. “The combination of LeBron’s global media presence and Warner Bros.’ unmatched production and distribution expertise is a big win for fans everywhere.”
That's just corporate-speak for "Space Jam 2 is coming," right? Right?
Who knows. But thanks to sharp-eyed Capital New York editor Alex Weprin, we do know this much: Warner Bros. recently filed new Space Jam trademarks.
Warner Bros. filed new trademarks for "Space Jam" last month. Today announced deal with LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/WaZ33sXCsY— Alex Weprin (@alexweprin) July 22, 2015
New trademarks filed June 8, partnership with James announced July 22 -- do the math, sheeple.
Well, maybe. A Space Jam sequel starting James has long been a gossip topic among fans of both the NBA and the beloved 1996 flick. Back in 2013, James posted this tweet in response to a fan's question:
"@wilduss: @KingJames have u ever think about make a movie like Space Jam? Could be great!"(Think about it a lot. Would be great!)— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 19, 2013
Speculation has flared up occasionally ever since, but reps for both James and Warner Bros. have repeatedly denied that anything is in the works. In Hollywood, nothing is a sure thing until it's a sure thing, but the deal announced Wednesday -- along with James recently earning rave reviews for his performance in the Judd Apatow-directed Trainwreck -- can certainly be taken as a positive sign.
Whatever ends up happening with Space Jam 2, though, this much remains certain: The original flick still has one of the greatest websites of all time, which is still standing today.
Meanwhile, the orgy of Space Jam 2 thirst prompted this fun hashtag game on Twitter, with fans throwing out farcical plot-lines for the sequel:
Dan Gilbert writes a letter guaranteeing the Monstars will win a championship before LeBron, who sends him to Moron Mountain #SpaceJam2Plots— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) July 22, 2015
The Knicks draft one of the Moron Mountain aliens, which makes fans boo and a young boy cry. #SpaceJam2Plots— Justin Satzman (@jsatz23) July 22, 2015
Woj scoops mid-game that Bugs Bunny has a torn ACL #SpaceJam2Plots— Jeremy Woo (@Jeremy_Woo) July 22, 2015
Sam Cassell & fellow aliens spend yrs slowly stealing LeBron's hairline to use in an alien ritual called the Big Balls Dance #SpaceJam2Plots— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) July 22, 2015
Luke Ridnour is repeatedly traded back and forth between the Tune Squad and Monstars #SpaceJam2Plots @SInow— Stanley Kay (@citizen_kay) July 22, 2015
The people have spoken. Now it's up to LeBron and Warner Bros. to make this thing happen.
Until then, here's the original Space Jam theme song, which has aged like a fine wine and still goes down just as smooth as ever. Drink it in, for old times' sake: