LeBron's SpringHill Entertainment taps Ryan Coogler to produce 'Space Jam 2'

The "Space Jam" sequel appears to be a go.

LeBron James' production company, SpringHill Entertainment, announced Wednesday that Ryan Coogler - whose past films include "Black Panther," "Creed," and "Fruitvale Station" - will produce "Space Jam 2."

"I loved his vision (for 'Black Panther')," James told The Hollywood Reporter's Marisa Guthrie, noting that there were no black superheroes when he was a kid growing up in Akron, Ohio. "So for Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it's amazing."

SpringHill also confirmed that Terence Nance will direct the Warner Bros. film, replacing Justin Lin, and that James will star in the lead role. Production is tentatively slated to begin in 2019.

Related: Barkley isn't on board with 'Space Jam' sequel

The original "Space Jam," released in 1996, earned around $250 million worldwide and remains the highest-grossing basketball movie of all time.

"The 'Space Jam' collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie," James said. "It's so much bigger. I'd just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don't just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan did that for a lot of people."