Space Jam A New Legacy: LeBron James hopes to make Michael Jordan proud, says he was ‘extremely nervous’

“I was extremely nervous to even redo this film,” he said. “But I put my heart into it, I put my looniness into it obviously with the Tunes and committed to it. I’m excited for what people are actually going to see.”

The purple carpet was filled with celebrities, from Zendaya, who voices Lola Bunny, and Don Cheadle, who plays villain Al G. Rhythm, to John Legend and G-Eazy, who have tracks on the film’s score. Basketball stars Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis also attended the premiere.

More family-orientated than the original Space Jam, this sequel sees LeBron James try to rescue his son Dom (Cedric Joe) by winning a basketball game with Bugs Bunny, voiced by Jeff Bergman.

When asked how this differed from the first film, Sonequa Martin-Green, who co-stars as James’ wife, said she had grown up with that movie.

“I think that film was very important and necessary for that time and so I’m hoping that this film does the same thing,” she said. “I hope it brings people together because I think it has everything it needs to be a new classic.”

James was also conscious of the legacy of Space Jam: A New Legacy, adding: “I hope I continue to make Michael proud. He’s someone I looked up to as a kid and hopefully this is another step in that direction.”

Space Jam: A New Legacy has hit US theatres and streams on HBO Max from Friday.