Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has been hired to produce the sequel to 1996’s Space Jam.
According to THR, Space Jam 2 star LeBron James approves of Coogler’s hiring, stating that he “loved his vision” on Black Panther, noting that there were no black superheroes around when he was a kid growing up in Akron, Ohio. “For Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it’s amazing.”
“The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie,” says James, “It’s so much bigger. I’d just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don’t just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people.”
The first official photo for Space Jam 2 has also been revealed by Lights, Camera, Pod:
First OFFICIAL thing we've seen about 'Space Jam 2' is out: Terence Nance to direct, Ryan Coogler to produce and, obviously, stars LeBron James in the lead role. pic.twitter.com/Yl0P6mUl9R
— Lights, Camera, Pod (@LightsCameraPod) September 19, 2018
Terrence Nance (HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness) is attached to direct the film, which is slated to begin production in 2019.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter