Ryan Coogler to produce Space Jam sequel

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler will produce a sequel to animated sports comedy film Space Jam. It stars American professional basketball player LeBron James and the script of the film is written by Andrew Dodge and Lin.

The sequel will be directed by Terence Nance, whose other works include An Oversimplification of Her Beauty and Swimming in Your Skin Again.

American former professional basketball player Michael Jordan teamed up with Looney Tunes characters in 1996's Space Jam which grossed $230 million worldwide. In the film, Jordan teamed up with Bugs Bunny and friends to help them win a basketball match against a group of aliens. 

Excited about the sequel, James says, "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 be if they don't just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people."

The Space Jam sequel is tentatively slated for release in 2019, during the NBA off-season.