Warner Bros. officially releases the first Space Jam: A New Legacy trailer. Starring NBA icon LeBron James, the film is the long-gestating followup to 1996's Space Jam, which saw Michael Jordan team up with the Looney Tunes to win a basketball game. Space Jam: A New Legacy is following that basic premise, but it's deviating from the original film in key aspects. James himself described his Space Jam as a family film, primarily revolving around the relationship between James and his fictional son, Dom. The two find themselves trapped in a virtual reality filled with WB characters and go up against Don Cheadle's Al-G Rhythm.
One of WB's films premiering on HBO Max the same day as theaters, Space Jam: A New Legacy is set to debut in July. While there are still a few months until the movie's release, WB has already jump-started the marketing campaign. After unveiling a handful of still images in early March, the studio more recently shared a collection of Space Jam: A New Legacy character posters showcasing the new 3D designs of the Looney Tunes characters. Now, audiences get their best look at the film yet with the first trailer.
WB released the first Space Jam: A New Legacy trailer. Check it out in the space below:
The trailer lays the foundation of the James family dynamic, with LeBron trying to push Dom towards playing basketball. However, Dom's interests are elsewhere, and he expresses disappointment in his father's approach to parenting. It would seem LeBron's arc is learning to let Dom follow his own path in life, which definitely gives Space Jam: A New Legacy more of an emotional hook than its predecessor. But while the film is serving family drama, it also looks to be a highly entertaining and colorful movie complete with classic Looney Tunes humor and gags. Banished to Tune World, LeBron assembles a "Dream Team" including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the others - a far cry from the powerful WB characters he initially hopes to recruit, like Superman and Gandalf.
Audiences also get glimpses at the Goon Squad, who appear to be this film's version of the Monstars. They're the opposing team assembled by Al-G Rhythm, who's looking to keep Dom trapped in the ServerVerse. In the first Space Jam, the Monstars stole the talents of various NBA players so they could overpower the Looney Tunes. It'll be interesting to see if the followup goes with the same formula. It's been reported big name NBA and WNBA players like Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, and Diana Taurasi took key roles, but James is the only pro seen in the footage. WB could be waiting until Space Jam: A New Legacy's premiere to confirm any cameos, hoping they're a surprise for basketball fans. The main draw, after all, is James teaming up with the tunes.
Source: Warner Bros.
