Space Jam 2: How The Monstars Cameo Connects To Original's Villains Ending - Screen Rant

mixdes.blogspot.com

Space Jam: A New Legacy includes a fun cameo from the Monstars, which actually connects with the original movie’s ending. The Monstars were the opposing team during Michael Jordan’s game with the Looney Tunes in 1996’s Space Jam. The five characters were a group of diminutive aliens transformed into highly capable basketball players by the stolen talent of NBA stars.

Instead of revisiting the Monstars and giving them a rematch with Bugs Bunny’s Tune Squad, Space Jam: A New Legacy moved in a different direction via Al-G-Rhythm (Don Cheadle) and the Server-verse. Whereas the original put the focus on aliens looking to enslave the Tunes, the sequel centered on the concept of Warner Bros. characters existing in a virtual reality. By stealing the video game designs made by LeBron James’ son and the copied moves of real-life NBA players, the villain brought the Goon Squad to life. With each character possessing a different set of powers and abilities, beating them proved to be quite a challenge for LeBron James and the 14 Looney Tunes characters on his team.

The match between the Goon Squad and the Looney Tunes was observed by an untold number of Warner Bros. characters, with one of the most interesting additions to the audience being the Monstars in their tiny forms. The Space Jam villains were briefly seen cheering against former enemies and becoming disappointed when James scored. As for how and why they were there, their inclusion as well as their appearances can be easily explained by the ending of the 1996 film. Their monstrous looks are of course more iconic, but it’s important to note that they all went back to their original sizes after losing. Michael Jordan convinced them to give up the talent they stole, since that was one of the conditions they agreed on if the Tune Squad were to win.

The Monstars being at the game was also made possible by the aftermath of their match with Jordan and the Looney Tunes. Following the defeat of their master, Swackhammer, the aliens announced their plans to make the move to Looney Tune land. The movie didn’t show if Bugs and the others agreed, but the implication of this scene is that the world of the Looney Tunes became their new place of residence. It’s possible that like the members of Bugs’ cartoon family, the Monstars were lured away and sent to one of the other worlds in the Server-verse, and were later allowed to join the rest of the Warner Bros. characters in watching the game. Their decision to root for the Good Squad is a sign that even though Space Jam ended with them being on good terms with the Tunes, they're still villains at heart.

The Monstars didn’t have much of a role in Space Jam: A New Legacy, but their cameo did serve as a fun tribute to the original. And, it served as further proof that Space Jam is in-canon with the second movie. Though Space Jam 2 feels very much like a new story, there are hints that the two films are connected. Sylvester implied that they met Michael Jordan 25 years ago (which is when the original released), and both Bugs and Lola Bunny made comments about playing basketball alongside an NBA star at some point in the past. The Monstars cameo solidified the link between the two movies.

More: Space Jam: A New Legacy Ending Explained

DC's Batgirl Movie: Barbara Gordon Casting Shortlist Revealed

Related Topics

About The Author

Nicholas Raymond (2635 Articles Published)

Nicholas Raymond is a staff movies & TV features writer for Screen Rant. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo, and is the author of the psychological thriller and time travel novel, "A Man Against the World." Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, and ancient history. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. He can be reached by email at cnrmail@bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @cnraymond91.