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Since it was first founded in the 1980s, the Criterion Collection has recognized over 1,000 movies for their cultural and cinematic significance and catered to film buffs who are suckers for restored footage and commentary tracks.
Over the years, it’s commemorated the achievements of the world’s most influential films and filmmakers, whether we’re talking about Ingmar Bergman’s experimental works, obscure arthouse flicks, or some relatively mainstream movies that managed to change the game in some way.
Criterion adds new movies to its collection on a steady basis, and while I’ve been waiting with bated breath, there’s one film they seemingly refuse to give the special treatment to: Space Jam.
There is perhaps no movie that sums up the essence of the 1990s better than Space Jam does, and as a result, it has a special place in the heart of more than a few nostalgia addicts pining for a simpler time—a time when R. Kelly wasn’t Problematic and before Lola Bunny helped make furries a thing.
A few years back, Hollywood realized coming up with original ideas is overrated when you can just reboot a film or whip up a sequel to a beloved movie so it didn’t come as much of a shock when LeBron James revealed he was officially making Space Jam 2.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo and a few other big names revealed they had no plans to join the project, I wasn’t exactly optimistic that it would be able to live up to its lofty expectations—nor was I super excited when some of the cast was finally revealed last week.
Sources: Space Jam 2, starring LeBron James, is expected to feature key roles for Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson and WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Nneka Ogwumike. Several more NBA and WNBA players, including Chiney Ogwumike, are expected to play roles in film.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2019
It turns out I’m not the only one.
According to Complex, Charles Barkley was asked about the project at Monday’s NBA Awards and it appears he is decidedly not onboard, saying, ” Listen, I don’t care. Space Jam 1 was amazing. We don’t need 2.”
When you consider the film isn’t going to be released until 2021, LeBron and the gang have more than enough time to make sure it lives up to the hype but I guess Chuck isn’t going to be the first person in line when it comes out.