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https://nerdist.com/article/space-jam-2-everything-we-know-so-far/

Everybody get up, it’s time to slam now, cause we got another jam goin’ down. Welcome to the Space Jam… 2. More than two decades after Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes defeated the Monstars, and after years of false starts, we’re finally getting a sequel. What will the new Tune Squad with LeBron James look like and when will we see his team hit the court? Here’s what’s up, doc, with everything we know about Space Jam 2 so far.

Official Title and Logo

The film’s official title is Space Jam: A New Legacy. Mega superstar LeBron James shares top billing with an animated character in the movie, which is amazing.

Release Date

The movie will tip off in theaters next summer, on July 16, 2021. However, COVID-19 delayed the current season. It’s possible the 2020-2021 NBA season will end well after June, maybe even as late as August, which could push the film’s release to the “off-season” in the fall.

The Tune Squad’s New Jerseys

LeBron James’ company Uninterrupted offered the first look at the Tune Squad’s new uniforms and they are definitely not subtle. A colorful blue set has replaced the original white jerseys. They have a giant Looney Tunes logo, which spans both the top and the shorts, on one side.

These are dramatically different from what Michael Jordan wore.

Kids are probably going to love them.

Cast

Most people know LeBron James as one of the stars of Trainwreck, but what is less known is he also plays in the National Basketball Association. And he’s not half-bad. He’ll be stepping into the lead role that originally belonged to the GOAT Michael Jordan.

Star Trek Discovery‘s Sonequa Martin-Green has also signed on to the film. Variety reports she is expected to play James’ wife in the film. Avenger Don Cheadle will also appear in a still-unannounced role. With his vast experience fighting dangerous aliens, he seems like a natural for the Tune Squad.

NBA insider Shams Charania got to add entertainment reporter to his résumé by announcing which real basketball players will join LeBron James in the film. They include NBA stars Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, and James’  Lakers teammate Anthony Davis. WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Nneka Ogwumike will also be in the film.

The Looney Tunes are returning. We’re unsure though if Mr. Swackhammer will return with a new team of Monstars, or if the movie will have a new villain.

At one point former NBA player Jared Sullinger was listed in the cast as playing NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley, a Space Jam star whose talents were stolen. If this is not an error, it could mean we’ll see flashbacks, or possibly some time traveling shenanigans, which will involve a much younger Barkley.

Either way, that hopefully indicates the real Barkley returning for the sequel as well, and possibly other NBA stars who also co-starred in the first film. That includes Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, Shawn Bradley, and Larry Johnson. It’s unknown if the first film’s stars Wayne Knight and Bill Murray will also return, or Danny DeVito, who voiced Swackhammer.

And while we know Michael Jordan doesn’t play basketball anymore, the Tune Squad might need a GM.

One major star from the original film who will return is Bugs Bunny, as he was given a locker in the first promo image for the film.

Lola Bunny will also return, though she won’t be the only other Looney Tunes character to return to the Tune Squad.

Filmmakers

Black Panther‘s Ryan Coogler is producing the film. He wrote the film along with Sev Ohanian. Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip, Night School) is directing, taking over from Terence Nance.

Filming

Filming was scheduled to begin in L.A. on June 17, 2019. That was the day after the last possible date the NBA Finals could have ended. Shooting was scheduled to wrap up in late August before the NBA pre-season kicked off.

Make sure to check back here to find out what’s up with Space Jam 2 as we learn more about the film.

 Featured Image: Universal Pictures/Warner Bros.

Originally published on March 28, 2019 and updated on August 18, 2020.

The post SPACE JAM 2 Reveals the Tune Squad’s New Uniforms appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/where-did-you-learn-about-fred-hampton-because-it-wasnt-in-school/

This Week In Nerd News, Victoria and Keith begin with Judas and the Black Messiah, and the angering fact that 1) not much has changed, and 2) little is taught about Fred Hampton in school, and most Black people have to learn through alternative means or not at all. How well will Judas and the Black Messiah do at putting his story at the forefront of the American consciousness? Will it do for Fred Hampton and the Rainbow Coalition what Watchman did for the Tulsa Massacre?

Also, will history repeat itself with a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender? The original creators pull out of the Netflix adaptation due to creative differences and the potential reasons behind it. Plus, Victoria and Keith discuss DC layoffs, and the war of capitalism that is Apple and Google versus Epic games.

Is This Week In Nerd News in your weekly podcast feed? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

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The post Where Did You Learn About Fred Hampton? Because It Wasn’t In School. appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://madamenoire.com/1181886/reasons-to-schedule-a-nap/

When you’re trying to juggle working from home and managing your kids as they learn remotely, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. However, making a conscious effort to schedule a 20-30 minute power nap at some point during the workday can yield tremendous benefits. Here are ten of them:

Mood boost

If you’re in a particularly funky mood, a quick power nap can help to adjust your disposition. So often, we’re short, snippy, and overly sensitive because we’re simply tired. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and take that nap.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/talking-with-bruce-livingstone-writer-of-the-lost-city-of-heracleon/

Last week, you might have seen our advance review of BOOM! Studios’ graphic novel, The Lost City of Heracleon. Well, this week, we are happy to say that we got a chance to interview with both the writer, Bruce Livingstone, and artist, Mike Willcox. Be sure to read both ahead of the release on August 29th.

BNP: To introduce our readers to the story, how would describe The Lost City of Heracleon.

Bruce: Called to adventure, young boys Lou and Shiro find themselves on a time-slipping craft made by the ancient gods and captained by an off-the-hinges old man. They soon discover Lou’s missing father might still be alive as they are transferred into fully grown warriors headed straight for the battlegrounds of Ancient Egypt. After re-uniting with Lou’s father and battling the God’s army of monsters, they travel to the Lost City of Heracleon. As the gods tinkering with fate become reckless and apathetic, the boys become part of a legion hell-bent on restoring balance to humanity, ending in 1914 Sarajevo attempting to prevent WW1.

BNP: The Lost City of Heracleon is heavily rooted in a familiar trope of young heroes-to-be getting “called onto a grand adventure”. So to speak, what “called” you to the story? How did this book start and transform? What were some major influences?

Bruce: This all started when I set out to write a story for my son, Sozé. It was meant to be a short book and ended up over 240 pages. Most of my ideas in the first part of the book stemmed from a fascination with the ocean, boating, and scuba diving. The story just spewed out of me as I got it all down on paper over the next two years. Most of the characters are based on friends and family, some who[m] have left this life. This was my way of honoring them and keeping them alive in the hope that my own kids will someday feel connected to them. I feel like our modern culture doesn’t have a way of passing down our knowledge and spirit after we die. So this was, partially, my way of doing that.

BNP: What type of research did you complete while scripting the story and did any of your discoveries make you or Mike adjust course?

Bruce: Quite a lot of research went into writing about the old gods and monsters. This was probably the most fun we had creating the story. We looked at a lot of old mythology books to get the creatures just right. We also took some liberties making some new creatures as described by the ancient god’s war council. The most difficult part of the narrative was setting up the events leading to what is believed to be the start of WWI. We wanted it to be accurate, but also wanted to mesh the story with how to ancient god’s restored their benevolence and started to come back to participating in world events. Probably the area with the most research was the clothing, fashion, architecture, munitions and machines in 1914 Sarajevo. Most of the visuals were pieced together by looking at old photographs and drawings.

BNP: The one unique framing device of the graphic novel is that the narration is told within a sort of “radio play dramatization”. How did you approach blending the longer prose segments within the comic? 

Bruce: It’s interesting you recognized that. When I gave the chapters to Mike, he removed much of the narrative and descriptive elements because they weren’t needed after he created the illustrations. I had to not be precious about that, which was kind of difficult for a writer to see words disappearing. It required a huge amount of trust. We trusted each other instantly when he started showing me storyboard sketches. The voice of the narrator, I think, is still present. It’s the voice that we all have that sits behind our eyes that is omnipresent from the moment we open our eyes in the morning.

BNP: What do your hope readers will get out of the experience of reading your work?

Bruce: I wrote the book for my son at a pivotal time in his life, and mine. As a young person having to navigate difficult situations like watching his parents getting divorced and death. He struggled with some indecision about himself and even larger questions about the purpose of life and religion. I hope that he, and other young people, will find some life lessons ingrained in the characters about free will and the importance of what we do for others and how we navigate those relationships.

BNP: Between the two principal characters, Lou and Shiro, which one do you relate more with?

Bruce: Definitely Lou, his character was created after my son.

BNP: What piece of media do you wish more people knew about? Not necessarily your favorite, but a book/comic/TV show/etc. That you think deserves more shine.

Bruce: “The Forged Coupon”, a novella about mischief from Tolstoy, Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” and anything by Jean Giraud (Moebius), but especially “Edena”.

BNP: Anything you want to share with your audience at Black Nerd Problems?

Bruce: I just want to thank you for your insightful questions and [for] giving new authors/artists a chance to be seen and heard. Much love, BNP!

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The post Talking with Bruce Livingstone, Writer of the Lost City of Heracleon appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.