Space Jam, released in February 1997, became a nostalgic favorite for 90s kids, featuring basketball icon Michael Jordan alongside the Looney Tunes in a thrilling basketball contest against alien foes. Recently, Nathan Lane revealed he was overlooked for a role in the film due to his sexual orientation, feeling that his openness affected casting decisions. Despite its success, a sequel in 2021 featuring LeBron James did not achieve the same impact, earning significantly less at the box office.
Space Jam: A 90s Classic That Captured Hearts
Launched in February 1997 in France, Space Jam became a beloved classic for kids of the 90s! Picture this: basketball legend Michael Jordan joins forces with the zany Looney Tunes for an unforgettable sports showdown!
Similar to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam seamlessly blended live-action with animation, creating a delightful family film centered around athletics. The plot takes us to the whimsical world of the Looney Tunes, where chaos reigns as the menacing Monstars from outer space plan to abduct Bugs Bunny and his pals for their extraterrestrial amusement park!
The only way for our beloved characters to escape their fate? They must triumph over the Monstars in a high-stakes basketball game. Faced with the aliens’ extraordinary abilities, Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, and the rest have one glimmer of hope: the greatest basketball player in history, Michael Jordan, must join their team!
Nathan Lane’s Exclusion from Space Jam
The iconic film is back in the spotlight following a revealing interview with actor Nathan Lane in Vanity Fair. He shared that he was overlooked for a role in Space Jam due to his sexual orientation. “I always believed theater offered a richer avenue for exploring acting. Film was merely a way to support my theater career,” Nathan Lane remarked.
In 1996, Nathan Lane gained widespread acclaim for his role in The Birdcage and assumed this would pave the way for more film opportunities. “I thought the success of The Birdcage would lead to more projects, but that wasn’t the case. I mentioned to my agent that I expected more offers, and he said: Maybe if you hadn’t been so open about your lifestyle, things might have been different,” the comedian revealed.
He further elaborated on how he lost a chance to be part of Space Jam, as he was deemed “too gay” for the role. “While I can’t know what goes on behind closed doors, I can’t shake the feeling that it played a part. I was told it affected a film I wasn’t particularly keen on: Space Jam. I was considered for the role that Wayne Knight, known for his role in Seinfeld, ultimately played [Stan Podolak],” Nathan Lane disclosed.
“I was in the running for that role. Apparently, the director [Joe Pytka] saw me at the Tony Awards and concluded I was too gay for it. In hindsight, I’m relieved I didn’t have to be in Space Jam [laughs]. However, I will never truly know what was said. Homophobia is still a significant issue,” he concluded.
Space Jam was produced with a budget of $80 million and proved to be a box office hit, raking in $230 million globally. In France, the film attracted 2 million viewers. In contrast, the sequel released in July 2021 failed to resonate with audiences, grossing just $163 million worldwide against a budget of $150 million. Featuring LeBron James, it only captured the interest of 419,000 viewers in our region.