Space Jam 2 finally looks a go

Two months ago, basketball superstar LeBron James, pictured, joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, he’s taking on Hollywood in a big way.

The long-awaited sequel to Space Jam – the 1996 live action-animated film starring NBA legends Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing – is finally moving forward.

King James’ production company, SpringHill Entertainment, this week tweeted an image of a locker room featuring the names of James, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler as the producer and ... Bugs Bunny himself as point guard.

“I loved his vision for Black Panther,” James said of Coogler to The Hollywood Reporter.

Independent filmmaker Terence Nance – the creator of HBO’s quirky comedy Random Acts of Flyness – is tapped to direct the film for Warner Brothers.

The original film featured the Looney Tunes characters – Bugs, Daffy Duck and friends – who recruit Jordan to help them win a basketball game against the Monstars, a team of animated alien villains who steal the talents of other NBA icons.

Space Jam 2 has long been rumoured, but the tweet made it clear the project is a go.

This is not the first time that James has dipped his toe into the acting world, but this would be his first starring role.

He made a well-received supporting turn in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck (2015) and has a voice role in Warner Brothers’ animated feature Smallfoot, which hits US theatres this week. –