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          LeBron James, producer Ryan Coogler to work together on 'Space Jam' movie

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          Jalen: Space Jam is 'overrated' (1:52)

          The Get Up! crew discusses how LeBron James is always linked to Michael Jordan, and Jalen Rose says Space Jam is overrated. (1:52)

          • Ohm Youngmisuk
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            Ohm Youngmisuk
            ESPN Staff Writer
              Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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          • Dave McMenamin
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            Dave McMenamin
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            • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
            • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
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          Sep 19, 2018, 08:47 PM

          Blown away by Ryan Coogler's work on "Black Panther," LeBron James is teaming up with the director/producer on the long-anticipated next "Space Jam" movie.

          Coogler will produce the "Space Jam" project with Terence Nance -- whose work includes "Random Acts of Flyness" and "An Oversimplification of Her Beauty" -- set to direct.

          James' SpringHill Entertainment first tweeted the news with a photo of a locker room and the crew that will make the movie.

          A source told ESPN that James was personally involved in recruiting Coogler. "Space Jam" will be Coogler's first project since directing "Black Panther" -- the groundbreaking Marvel movie featuring a black superhero with a predominantly black cast that grossed $1.34 billion worldwide.

          James and longtime business partner Maverick Carter have been in talks to make a "Space Jam" film for more than five years, waiting for the right situation to come along, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

          While the film shares the name with the popular franchise that originally starred Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in a 1996 box-office smash, a source familiar with the production told ESPN's Dave McMenamin that James' vehicle will not be considered a sequel to the highest-grossing basketball film of all time.

          "I loved his vision," James told The Hollywood Reporter of the acclaimed Coogler, who also directed "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station." "So for Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it's amazing."

          While the premise of the latest installment of "Space Jam" being discussed is not rooted in the original story, there have been discussions of involving Jordan, with his level of involvement still to be determined. Filming is expected to start during the 2019 NBA offseason.

          James' Springhill Entertainment signed a deal in 2015 with Warner Bros. Entertainment, which owns "Space Jam."

          James, who had a supporting acting role in the 2015 comedy "Trainwreck," has reviewed numerous scripts and met with various producers and directors in search of the right project, according to Windhorst.

          James signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers in July, something that should only amplify and better facilitate his business team's numerous ventures in entertainment.

          "The 'Space Jam' collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie," James told The Hollywood Reporter. "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."