LeBron James signs with Warner Bros., stokes rumors of ‘Space Jam’ sequel

LeBron James has joined Warner Bros.’s lineup.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star and his production company SpringHill Entertainment have signed a deal with the Burbank studio for television, movies and digital content, the firms announced Wednesday.

The pact between one of the world’s best-known basketball players and one of the biggest film studios comes on the heels of James’ turn in the Judd Apatow-Amy Schumer comedy “Trainwreck.”

That film, which has earned solid reviews and grossed a strong $30 million in its opening weekend, was released by Universal Pictures.

SpringHill, which James created with his business partner Maverick Carter, already has a portfolio of entertainment projects, including the Disney inspirational series “Becoming” and the Starz comedy “Survivor’s Remorse,” and an upcoming game show for NBC.

Hoops players have dipped their toes in Hollywood before by stepping in front of the camera, with mixed results. Shaquille O’Neal played a boombox-dwelling genie in “Kazaam,” while Michael Jordan starred alongside the Looney Tunes and Bill Murray in “Space Jam.”

The latter film in particular naturally has ‘90s nostalgia fiends interested in the James-Warner Bros. deal, which quickly stoked rumors of a “Space Jam” sequel on Twitter and websites such as Deadspin.

Warner Bros., which put out the first “Space Jam,” declined to comment and the companies have not announced any new projects yet.

“Space Jam” came out in 1996 to less-than-stellar reviews. However, it remains the highest-grossing basketball movie ever, at $90 million domestic, according to Box Office Mojo.

Follow Ryan Faughnder on Twitter for more entertainment business coverage: @rfaughnder.

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