Charles Barkley Says There’s No Need For Space Jam 2

Warner Bros. Family Entertainment

As the Space Jam sequel starts filming, much to the delight of fans of the cult classic, the words of one or two naysayers are inevitably spreading, too.

Leading the charge is none other than Space Jam star and legendary athlete, Charles Barkley. The NBA hero took advantage of the spotlight at the 2019 NBA Awards to let people know he is not feeling the forthcoming sequel to the 1996 film.

You can watch the trailer below to jog your memory:

Entertainment Tonight’s Deidre Behar asked if he was warming up to the idea of a b-ball flick reboot.

He simply replied:

Not at all.

When told that acclaimed Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler was involved with the project, Barkley couldn’t be convinced by those credentials.

He added:

Well, listen, I don’t care. Space Jam one was amazing. We don’t need two.

Getty Images

In case you missed it, the original film depicted Michael Jordan’s retirement from the NBA in 1993 and his triumphant return in 1995, with the help of the Looney Tunes… Obviously.

Buggs and the gang were enlisted to beat a team of aliens known as the Monstars who robbed top NBA players, including Barkley, of their ‘superpowers’.

But the sequel – just one of the many Hollywood has green lit in the name of nostalgia and, some would argue, a lack of originality – hasn’t been welcomed by all.

It was first teased in September 2018 by LeBron James’ production company which shared a locker room shot confirming the new film’s team.

James told The Hollywood Reporter last year:

The Space Jam collaboration [with Ryan Coogler] 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. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people.

No word yet on the synopsis for the forthcoming reboot, but clearly Charles Barkley won’t be watching to see if it’s an improvement on the original.

If you have a story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via [email protected].

Francesca Donovan

A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.