Stephen A. Smith is finally going Hollywood.
ESPN’s preeminent takesmith, who recently agreed to a new deal that will reportedly make him the highest paid on-air talent at the company, has a plan that will take him from New York to Los Angeles, where he sees his future. Smith wants the sunshine and a move to primetime eventually, but Los Angeles also offers him more opportunities outside of the ESPN walls.
Smith, who rarely takes much time off, was absent from First Take early this week, and on Wednesday, he explained that he was busy shooting a movie. As he told Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim, it was an animation movie, eliciting an excited response from Max, making many assume that the movie in question is Space Jam 2.
https://twitter.com/DPWEarl_/status/1143939877467316225
Now, Smith says the movie comes out next year, while Space Jam 2 isn’t due out until 2021, which puts a bit of a damper on that dream of Stephen A. yelling about Bugs Bunny’s lack of game. The reason all of this speculation is running wild is that LeBron James tweeted on Monday that production had begun on Space Jam 2.
Man this really just hit me! I’m really shooting Space Jam 2!! This is so surreal and doesn’t even make sense to me! Where I come from man and what I saw growing up this doesn’t add up to me! 🤦🏾♂️! I’m truly grateful and beyond blessed. This is CRAZINESS. 🏀 🐰 🎥 👑🙏🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 25, 2019
Sadly, Stephen A. took to Twitter to clarify his statement and made it known he was not going to have a role in LeBron’s film, shattering our hopes and dreams in the process.
No folks. I was not alluding to Space Jam 2 this morning on @FirstTake. There’s no way anyone in charge would allow @KingJames and I to be on the set together. Too much tension. That would be as bad as us on-camera together talking Ball. Wouldn’t want to make anyone nervous😉
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 26, 2019
