LeBron James is out for several weeks due to an injury, but fans can still get a first look at the four-time NBA MVP in his upcoming new role -- on the silver screen.
A new trailer for forthcoming animated sci-fi comedy "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy" was released on Saturday, showing some of the first extended looks at James in character as the leader of the Tunes Squad.
The clip features a series of quick cuts that appear to show off slickly produced animation and CGI.
James is even rendered in classic two-dimensional cartoon animation, and there are appearances by a host of characters from the Warner Bros. universe.
One user ever suggested a shot of Babs Bunny looked strikingly familiar to a pose struck by one of James' former teammates, Dwyane Wade.
The story's dramatic thrust is set in motion when James' son, played by the actor Cedric Joe, disappears amid a dispute with his father over his commitment to basketball and his future plans.
While searching for his son, LeBron's character stumbles into an alternate reality inside a computer -- the "serververse" -- ruled by an omnipotent villain played by Don Cheadle.
In order to win back his son, James, playing hoops alongside the iconic Bugs Bunny and other characters, must beat a series of all-star villain teams assembled by Cheadle.
The sequel is 25 years in the making, coming off the runaway success of the original film which starred Michael Jordan, James' predecessor as the global face of basketball, and spurred countless crossovers around pop culture, including a multi-platinum soundtrack.
The flick was set for a July 16 release in theaters.