MIAMI _ No sooner did word surface last fall that Space Jam 2 was a go, with LeBron James to lead the project, then Bookmaker.eu made Dwyane Wade the prohibitive favorite to land a role.
Now, seven months later, amid word from ESPN that James is having trouble lining up players to participate, Wade said he has yet to be approached.
"I don't have anything to do with that," Wade said of the production and the procurement of talent. "I heard about it. I don't know anything about it, though."
That doesn't mean he is not a fan of the concept, particularly the original semi-animated 1996 release that featured Michael Jordan.
"I loved it as a young kid," said Wade, who was 14 at the time. "Obviously Jordan was my favorite player."
Focused at the moment on the close of his career, including Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at AmericanAirlines Arena, Wade, 37, said it hasn't been a matter of giving a decision to his friend and former Heat championship teammate. The two are expected to be together this week as Wade's closes out his final regular season.
"He hasn't reached out to me, so I don't know nothing about it," Wade said. "Plus, that's his movie, that's his thing. So if they reach out and it's something that cool for me to do, then I'll look into doing it. If not, then support the movie like always."
Wade should have ample time for the summer shooting, having announced this will be his 16th and final NBA season
"I don't know if it's the right thing for me to do or the right time," he said. "I mean it's going to be cool, I guess. But I don't know anything about the movie, besides what Jordan did.
"I don't know what they're trying to accomplish. To say I'm just in because it's Space Jam would be more than that."
James told the Hollywood Reporter last year of the venture, "The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie. 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."
Wade has appeared in several films, mostly in cameo roles, including "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (2012), "Shot in the Dark" (2017) and "Just Wright" (2010).
Wade also has appeared in television episodes of Oprah's Lifeclass, HGTV All-Star Flip, Live With Kelly and Ryan, Live With Kelly, Austin & Ally, Bowling Night, Late Night With Seth Meyers, Good Morning America, The Queen Latifah Show, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Show with David Letterman, The View, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, One on One With Ahmad Rashad, Homecoming With Rick Reilly, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Charlie Rose, All-Star Aquariums, Chicagoland, Deal or No Deal, with a voiceover in The Cleveland Show.
Wade is married to actress Gabrielle Union, with the couple often spending offseasons in the Los Angeles area, where the Space Jam 2 will be shot.
James and Wade may have time for negotiations in coming days, with James expected to attend Wade's regular-season finale Wednesday in Brooklyn.
