LeBron James' 'Space Jam 2' Is Having Trouble Recruiting Other Basketball Stars Because of Sneakers
Maybe it's just not LeBron James' year.
Not only did the basketball star miss the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005, he's also experiencing woes in his quest for Hollywood dominance.
James is producing and starring "Space Jam 2," the follow-up to 1996 sports comedy centered on Michael Jordan.
Last week, ESPN reported that James was having a difficult time recruiting other NBA players to join him in "Space Jam 2." But according to The Hollywood Reporter, casting is under Warner Bros.' purview and the issue is more about ... sneakers.
As THR notes, "Nike is essential to the Space Jam franchise." That makes it extremely unlikely that any stars not signed with Nike will appear in the movie — including Stephen Curry (Under Armour) and James Harden (Adidas).
And even other Nike stars, like Kevin Durant, have other Hollywood projects of their own to shepherd.
"Space Jam 2" will reportedly revolve less around a Dream Team of NBA players and focus more on a family arc for James. "Star Trek: Discovery's" Sonequa Martin-Green is playing his wife, while the film is still casting for James' best friend and a key male teen character.