As a huge fan of Space Jam, a cult-classic '90s film with an amazing soundtrack [1], I can't wait for Space Jam: A New Legacy [2] to transport us back into the NBA-meets-Looney Tunes world. Between the basketball star power (hello, LeBron), the Looney Tunes shenanigans, and the almost-real animation style, this movie is set to be a summer standout. But one thing that would make this sequel perfect? If the basketball legend of my childhood, Michael Jordan [3], appeared in the movie. I did some digging, and here's what I found out. (Warning: spoilers for Space Jam: A New Legacy [4] ahead!)
Space Jam: A New Legacy stars NBA legend LeBron James [5], as well as Cassandra Starr, Kyrie Irving, Zendaya, [6] Don Cheadle [7], Sonequa Martin-Green, Cedric Joe, Ceyair J. Wright, and others. In the movie, a rogue artificial intelligence traps LeBron James and his son, Dom, who are forced to team up with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the gang in a game against the Goon Squad if they ever want to make it home safely.
So, is Michael Jordan in the film? Unfortunately, no. However, there is a moment when Sylvester claims to have spotted Michael Jordan in the crowd, and the camera pans to a confused-looking Michael B. Jordan. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Space Jam: A New Legacy producer Sev Ohanian said, "Look, if you're gonna have a Michael Jordan in your movie, you're gonna want Michael A. Jordan, right? The Jordan. But if you have the opportunity to have this incredible joke that's 25-plus years in the making [9], how could you not? It was the perfect, looniest addition to the film, and honestly, I just can't wait to be in the theatre and watch audiences experience it live."
In the same interview, Ohanian added, "I mean, M.J. has his own legacy with this film. It's always been nothing but love between him and this film."
As a huge fan of Michael B. Jordan, I can't say I'm too upset to see him in the movie (and, honestly, the joke is for the adults who watched the original anyway, so kids won't care). But if you were hoping to see Air Jordan play again, you'll just have to go back and watch the original. It sounds like a win-win to me!