LeBron James, producer Ryan Coogler will work together on the movie Space Jam

Buoyed by Ryan Coogler's work on "Black Panther", LeBron James teams up with the director / producer on the upcoming feature film "Space Jam".

A source confirmed that Coogler will produce the project "Space Jam" and will be accompanied by director Terence Nance, whose work includes "Random Acts of Flyness" and "An oversimplification of its beauty".

The story was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

A source told ESPN that James was personally involved in recruiting Coogler. "Space Jam" will be Coogler's first project since the production of "Black Panther" – Marvel's groundbreaking film featuring a black-dominant black superhero that has grossed $ 1.34 billion worldwide.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN said that James and his longtime partner, Maverick Carter, were in talks to make a movie "Space Jam" for over five years.

While the film shares the name with the popular franchise that initially played Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in 1996, a source familiar with the production said ESPN's Dave McMenamin that James's vehicle will not be considered a sequel from the highest basketball movie of all time.

"I loved his vision," said James to the Hollywood Reporter of the famous Coogler, who also directed "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station". "So, for Ryan, being able to bring that to the kids is amazing."

Although the premise of the last episode of "Space Jam" under discussion is not rooted in the original story, there have been discussions about Jordan's involvement, his level of involvement. remaining to be determined. Shooting should begin during the 2019 NBA season.

James Springhill Entertainment signed an agreement in 2015 with Warner Bros. Entertainment, which owns "Space Jam".

James, who played a leading role in the 2015 "Trainwreck" comedy, re-examined many screenplays and met various producers and directors looking for the right project, according to Windhorst.

James signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in July, which should only amplify and further facilitate the many entertainment activities of his commercial team.

"The Space Jam collaboration is more than just a collaboration between Looney Tunes and me," James told the Hollywood Reporter. "It's so much bigger, I'd like kids to understand how empowered they can be and how empowered they can be if they do not give up on their dreams." And I think Ryan did it for a lot of people. "