When it comes to animation movies which were clearly ahead of their time, you’d be remiss not to mention the 90s basketball favorite Space Jam. With the star power of B-ball legend Michael J🌳ordan leading the project, it’s probably no surprise to see how beloved it has become in the years since its initial 1996 release.
With the Looney Tunes undeniable prestige, combined with Michael Jordan’s unparalleled star power, Space Jam was a tantalizing coming together of two very different worlds. It told the story of the cartoon characters’ partnership with Jordan, as they took to the court to defeat those pesky Monstars. With funny dialogue, revolutionary animation design, and a heartwarming core, Space Jam ma෴naged to hit several slam-dunks during its 88-mi🧔nute duration.
However, what you see on the surface doesn’t tell the full story of the film’s production. Whether it’s criticisms of other movies, sly references to an old friend, or the durability of its 20-year-old website, Space Jam contains many obscure tidbits that you never uncovered before (until now, that is). Here are 25 shocking things you didn’t know about Space Jam.
25 There’s Some ‘Adult’ References ﷺ
Surely a cute kid’s movie like Space Jam doesn’t have any crude or obscene references in it? Well, that’s where you’d be wrong. Because when it finally made its way onto television screens, some of the more🌼 risqué lines actually had to be edited 🌺out.
It happened during the credits, with Daffy Duck’s line “We’re getting screwed” hitting the cutting room floor. However, that’s not the only example. Other eyebrow-raising moments that were actually left in include Bugs Bun🍬🔯ny becoming stiff when Lola tells him not to call her doll, and Patrick Ewing being questioned by a doctor on whether he’s unable to perform off the court.
Sorry guys, even Space Jam contains jokes not suitable for children. Thank goodness the🌌y’re too young to understand 🌌the references!
24 ꩵ ♌ Out With The Old, In With The New
Space Jam certainly had quite a contem🌸porary soundtrack, with R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” being the breakaway hit. However, you’ve proba✨bly wondered why the old cartoon music wasn’t used in the film.
Well, it turns out that it was deemed tooಞ dated by the producers when compared to the modern and fresh nucleus that the movie possessed. Composer James Newt🌳on Howard was brought in to provide a fitting score to accompany the more relevant on-screen action of the film.
Some might argue that Carl Stalling’s classic soundtrack should’ve been used, but it wasn’t to be. What w🍷e got instead was somewhat of a hybrid between old and new, just like the movie itself you could say.
23 The Real-Life Homer Si﷽mpson Makes An Appearance
Anyone growing up in the 90s definitely got treated to some fantastic cartoons, but The Simpsons was undeniably the cream of the crop. However, did you know that there’s a connection between the show and Space Jam?
Yes, in a rare movie appearance, the legendary voiceover actor of Homer Simpson playe𒀰d a small part in the basketball flick. When the little Monstars attend a ball game to scout out potential players for the team, one of the people they are sittဣing next to in the stands is Dan Castellaneta, the voice of everyone’s favorite cartoon character, Homer.
It’s not the first time he’s been associated with the Looney Tunes franchise either, as he also did work on Tiny Toon Adventures and Loonatics Unleashed.
22 Inspiration Fro💯ꦰm A Nike Ad
Sometimes ideas spawn from the most unlikely sources, and Space Jam was no different. Because whiꦯle it was actually Michael Jordan’s agent who pitched the🍸 idea to Warner Brothers, he got the concept from a Nike ad which featured the point-scoring superstar.
Aired during the 1992 Super Bowl, the ‘Hare Jordan’ advertisement prove🌼d to be so popular, that the m🌠ovie execs felt it could be turned into a fully-fledged motion picture. A year later, Jordan actually starred alongside Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian in another Nike ad, proving that the unlikely partnership had staying power.
Fast forward a few years, and Space Jam was now on the big s🐓creen. So, next time you watch the film, just remember Nike’s influential role in its creation.
21 💛 One Looney Tunes Original Hated The Film
As far as key members of the Looney Tunes universe go, they don’t come much more important than writer and director Chuck Jones. He’s responsible for the creation of Wile E. Coyote, Roa✅d Runner, Pepe Le Pew, among others, as well as sitting at t𒈔he helm of the iconic short cartoons from the franchise.
So, it goes without saying that he’s deeply entrenched in the brand. However, when Space Jam dr🌠opped, he certainly wasn’t shy about his hatred of the animation/sports movie hybrid. He called the movie “terrible,” and insisted that the Lola Bunny character had no substance.
He also bemoaned the change of format, going from the short feature💛s of the past to a full-length movie running time. So yeah, he didn’t like it…
20 ꩲIf At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again
God loves a trier, so chances are he loves Bill Murray. The comic-timing master starred in Space Jam as a wannabe bas✨ketball player, but you may be suꦑrprised to learn that it’s not the first time that he played such a role.
No, in fact, he played a similar part a couple of years earlier when he starred in a random TV commercial. In it, he stumbles and fumbles his way through the streets with a basketball in hand, along with some weird overdubs of “I believe in the ball,” and “I believe in the court, but I just can’t find the co🐼urt.” Yeah, we’re confused too…
Pull this one up on YouTube and🦂 you’ll likely feel weirdly uneasy by the end of it, thanks to some creepy acapella and Murray’s overly-in🐠tense delivery.
19 💯 🐎 Tribute To A Deceased Friend
Here’s one for all of you who claim to be attentive; A Space Jam Easter egg that’s admittedly incredibly obscure and non-consequential on the surface. However, on closer inspection, you’ll realize it’s actually a tribute to an old🦩 friend.
It can be spotted outside the gym which the Tune Squad hold their tryout sessions at. Notice the name on the placard reading: “Schlesinger Gym?” That’s actually a reference to Leon Schlesinger who was the founder of Warner Bros. and ultimately, the Looney Tunes franchise as well.
He served as not only the founding member, but also, as the producer of much of the cartoon’s earliest incarnations. It’s good to see thatꦆ the now deceased figurehead o✃f the company hasn’t been forgotten.
18 The B🌳all’s In Your Court Now
If you get Michael Jordan to be the star of your movie, you better make sure he’s well looked after. The Space Jam prod🍃ucers found this out first-hand when he insisted on training on-set in-between takes.
The answer? He had his very 𓂃own court built to satisfy all of his basketball needs. But it wasn’t just the court, it was the whole building. Named ‘The Dome," the facility also housed a weight room for his workouts. It was a true all-in-one compound that only a✅ star of his magnitude could bargain for.
It even became a hangout spot for others, with celebrities l⭕ike Arnold Schwarzene🍌gger, Steven Seagal, Antonio Banderas, and more, popping by for a few hoops with the B-ball legend.
17 💦 Get Your Game Face On 🍌
Speaking of throwing a few three-pointers on h🦩is off-time during filmingꩵ, Jordan also made time for a few impromptu matches as well. His love for the sport was so strong, that he rounded up anyone associated with the movie’s production for quick pickup games.
Everyone was invited to show up, which also meant Jordan’s teammates on occasion. Their NBA prowess was no match for all of the other participants wඣho were asked to play, with extras on the movie even getting in on the action. Now that is what you call intimidating.
Never let it be said that Jordan can’t mix work with pleasure, on Space Jam, he did just that.
16 👍 ꩵ Just Let Me Do My Thing!
Michael Jordan may have acted in Space Jam, but let’s face it, heꦕ’s more comfortable in sports. So it’s no surprise that when he was trying to get a feel for the acting profession, he got somewhat irked by the constant media attention he was getting at the time.
Yes, even while the movie was being shot, Jordan was being hassled by reporters and journalists looking for attention via the former Bulls superstar. It was something that had to be nipped in the bud as Space Jam director Joe Pytka told the Chicago Tribune in 2009.
He recalled, “It got out of hand for a while after they saw this was going to work. He [Jordan] was great. Then ♑they were using him for publicity and every day they’d bring in some dignitary to meet him and that started to [tick] him off.”