Warner Bros. has dropped the first trailer for “Space Jam: A New Legacy” starring current NBA legend and Laker star Lebron James.
While the story is different from the 1996 verison where hall-of-famer Michael Jordan was coming out of retirement, the new iteration seems to lean heavily on some family drama, where James can’t quite connect with his son. And unlike the 1996 film where Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals pull Jordan into their world, James finds himself drawn into a technological one that is a giant archive of everything wonderful about WB. Seems fitting considering how we just can’t get off our phones and crave nostalgia.
Yup, that means we will see all sorts of different characters, whether they are friend or foe, all mashed up into one live-action animation hybrid. Characters from “The Iron Giant,” “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Matrix,” even “Batman & Robin” all appear. Even King Kong drops in to witness the game of the century. Of course, that may have to do more with that he has a new movie out.
But the most notable difference between “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and the original “Space Jam” is the fact that the Tune Squad will have more of a CGI feel to it, while also still retaining much of its 2D animation spirit. It’s just another way to show how far the animation technology has come while also being an expansion of the “legacy” of the title that combines NBA legends with Looney Tunes superstars.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for “Space Jam: A New Legacy:”
Welcome to the Jam! NBA champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside timeless Tune Bugs Bunny with the animated/live-action event “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” from director Malcolm D. Lee and an innovative filmmaking team including Ryan Coogler and Maverick Carter. This transformational journey is a manic mashup of two worlds that reveals just how far some parents will go to connect with their kids. When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safe by leading Bugs, Lola Bunny and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.’s digitized champions on the court: a powered-up roster of professional basketball stars as you’ve never seen them before. It’s Tunes versus Goons in the highest-stakes challenge of his life, that will redefine LeBron’s bond with his son and shine a light on the power of being yourself. The ready-for-action Tunes destroy convention, supercharge their unique talents and surprise even “King” James by playing the game their own way.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Space Jam: A New Legacy drops in theaters and debuts on HBOMax on July 16, 2021.
