SPACE JAM 2 Director Terence Nance Exits The Project and is Replaced By Malcolm D. Lee
Space Jam 2 has had a long road to production. The movie has already had a few hiccups along the way, but it looks like the LeBron James production has hit another snag. The director of the film, Terence Nance, has exited the film and according to Deadline, he’s been replaced with Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip, Night School).
According to the report, Nance ended up stepping away because the studio and producers had different takes on the creative vision for the film. It’s funny, you think this is something they would have figured out before they started shooting the movie. I’m sure there’s more behind the scenes drama going on that no one is talking about.
We don’t know anything about the story for the film, but Star Trek: Discovery's Sonequa Martin-Green was previously cast as LeBron's wife. It’s also said that there’s a best friend character in the film named Malik, “modeled after Maverick Carter, LeBron's childhood buddy and producing partner in SpringHill.” Don Cheadle also recently joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
It was also reported that NBA players Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson will appear in the film along with WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Nneka Ogwumike. Several more NBA and WNBA players, including Chiney Ogwumike, are expected to show up in the film as well.
When talking about the film, James said:
“The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie. 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.”
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is also helping develop the movie with James as a producer.
Space Jam 2 is slated to debut on July 16, 2021.