Skip to content

'Space Jam' co-star says LeBron had 'more acting to do' than Jordan

Entertainment Weekly/Twitter

LeBron James' acting abilities will be on full display in "Space Jam: A New Legacy," according to his co-star, Don Cheadle.

The Academy Award-nominated actor spoke about working with James in an interview with Derek Lawrence of Entertainment Weekly, noting that the Los Angeles Lakers star had "more acting to do" than Michael Jordan did in the original "Space Jam."

"We rehearsed a lot, running lines off to the side, discussing what these characters want, all the stuff you would do with any actor," said Cheadle, who plays a CGI humanoid named Al G Rhythm. "At one point I was like, 'You know you can be much more of a diva than you're being right now?' "

The movie stars James as a heightened version of himself who, along with son Dom (played by 16-year-old Cedric Joe), gets pulled into a Warner 3000 entertainment "Server-verse," according to Lawrence. After Dom is kidnapped by Al G Rhythm, James rounds up the Looney Tunes to face the Goon Squad in a basketball game and help save his son.

James said he's yet to speak to Jordan about "New Legacy" but hopes he approves.

"It's something Mike created and is his," James said. "I held that with a lot of responsibility."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox