Space Jam 2: Why The Monstars Aren’t In The Sequel (And Why It’s A Mistake)

Space Jam 2: A New Legacy will follow NBA star LeBron James on an adventure alongside the Looney Tunes, which will include a basketball game against a team of aliens, but even though the movie is a follow-up to the now-classic movie from the 1990s, the Monstars won’t be part of it – and that can be a big mistake. Back in 1996, Warner Bros. surprised the world with a live-action/animated sports comedy movie starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes, titled Space Jam. Although it wasn’t well-received by critics, Space Jam was a big box office success and earned a special place in the hearts of viewers.

Space Jam presented a fictionalized account of what happened between Jordan’s initial retirement from basketball in 1993 and his comeback in 1995, in which he was enlisted by the Looney Tunes to help them win a basketball match against a group of aliens who planned on enslaving them and use them as attractions for their theme park. These aliens were known as the “Monstars”, and in order to win the game, they stole the talent of NBA players Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues. Over two decades later, a Space Jam sequel is finally happening, now led by LeBron James, and while it has a similar premise to the original one, there are some big differences between them, including the rival team.

Details on Space Jam: A New Legacy have been gradually revealed, including the plot. Space Jam 2 will see LeBron James teaming up with Bugs Bunny and company to rescue his missing son, Bronny (played by Ceyair J. Wright). For that, they will have to navigate through movies from the Warner Bros. catalogue while they also challenge against villain AI-G’s (Don Cheadle) plot and play an epic basketball game against “digital gamified super-versions of the NBA and WNBA’s biggest stars”, with the whole world watching every move. Of course, Space Jam 2 had to have a basketball game, but to the disappointment of many, the movie won’t see the return of the unforgettable Monstars.

In a recent appearance on the YouTube series Road Trippin’, LeBron James made it clear that the Monstars won’t be a part of Space Jam 2, though the team he and the Looney Tunes will go against is from another planet. When co-host Allie Clifton used the name “Monstars” when talking about this villainous team, James replied that they can call them “Monstars”, but they have a different name. There’s a lot of confusion over whether Space Jam: A New Legacy will be a sequel to Space Jam or more like a reboot, so it’s understandable that fans were hoping for the Monstars to return in some capacity. Without them, the only connections Space Jam 2 will have to the original movie are the Looney Tunes and a basketball game, with a random team of aliens as the new opposing team. As mentioned above in the plot description, the movie will see “digital gamified super-versions” of NBA and WNBA stars, such as Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, and Chiney Ogwumike, though how they will connect with the new alien team is unknown.

The most likely reason for the Monstars to not appear in Space Jam 2 is because LeBron James and company are looking to not make a direct sequel but still have some connections to the original one, and getting rid of the Monstars gives them more creative space, but it can also end with the interest of the audience on this new adventure. This, of course, can change once the first teaser or trailer for Space Jam: A New Legacy arrives, offering a proper look at what’s to come in terms of tone, story, and new characters, including the mysterious new team of aliens – and, of course, it’s yet to be seen if they will have any similarities or connections to the legendary Monstars.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3268 Articles Published)

Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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