The Space Jam: A New Legacy “Michael Jordan” cameo was actually better than any real Michael Jordan cameo that the movie could have used. After teasing an appearance from the star of the original Space Jam, the movie featured a shocking guest appearance from Black Panther and Creed star, Michael B. Jordan.
Considering the first Space Jam is a beloved classic, there was a great deal of speculation regarding what lengths the sequel would go to in paying homage to it. Since it was known from the beginning that Space Jam 2 was using a virtual reality to explain the Looney Tunes’ team-up with LeBron James (which differs from what happened in the first movie), it wasn’t even clear if they would be in canon with one another. Even so, a cameo from the basketball legend was teased by Al G. Rhythm actor Don Cheadle, who hinted that Jordan would appear in a way that audiences wouldn’t be expecting. That promise was kept in Space Jam 2 when Sylvester the Cat interrupted a discussion between the Tune Squad and LeBron James in the locker room at half-time. According to Sylvester, he ran into Michael Jordan, who was going to help them win the game.
Instead of having Michael Jordan himself walk into the room and share the screen with the Tunes again, it was Michael B. Jordan who filled this role. His arrival was a huge letdown to both James and the Tunes, with the latter feeling that the real Jordan was the hero they all needed. However, what was perceived as a major disappointment to the characters in the movie, was actually a pleasant treat to viewers, especially to those who recognized the actor. That’s largely due to how the movie built up to it, and how the characters’ reactions were framed.
Pretending to be an announcer, Daffy Duck gave him a suspenseful introduction, only to find out that Sylvester had simply made a laughable mistake by seeing Michael B. Jordan and thinking that the NBA star had simply “aged gracefully.” It was a perfect moment that didn’t feel at all like a missed opportunity. Space Jam 2 director Malcolm D. Lee has said that he never approached Michael Jordan about appearing in the movie. In light of what was ultimately worked out on-screen, that makes sense. Jordan didn’t necessarily need to be in Space Jam 2, and this scene proved it.
Space Jam: A New Legacy paid tribute to Jordan in its own way. The Tune Squad’s hype over the possibility of him showing up and their appreciation of his basketball skills helped to get across the notion that the movies are indeed connected. Not only that, but it indicated that even though they don’t mention it, Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Daffy, and all the rest still remember the day “His Airness” saved them from being enslaved by evil aliens.
