Space Jam is the kind of movie that will always be epic, regardless of how old you are. I mean, Michael Jordan and Bill Murray playing basketball together alongside Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes? It doesn't get much better than that. But this unlikely collaboration nearly didn't happen, according to Murray, because he actually made Jordan himself go after him. Murray has always been known for playing hard-to-get when it comes to casting, but making Michael Jordan himself get up to ask him to be in a movie? That's something else.
Many People Tried To Get Bill Murray To Join the Cast of ‘Space Jam,’ but to No Avail
A huge sports fan himself, Bill Murray recalled his time working on Space Jam during an episode of the New Heights podcast. Murray mentioned that it was Ivan Reitman who first approached him about working on the movie, and he liked the idea, seeing how the two of them had worked together many times already. Joining the cast of Space Jam would be a no-brainer for anyone, but, as Murray says, this subject actually started chasing him on Jordan's behalf. "About nine people said: 'You know, Michael really wants you to be in Space Jam,'" he recalls, although the exact number changes later on. But, anyway, it's not every day that you learn about the Jumpman's interest in you for one of his projects, right?
But Murray, being Murray, just couldn't do it straight. "All you have to do is nod, you know? Because it all just means: 'You know, I bet Mike can find my phone number,'" implying that Jordan should ask him directly if he really wanted Murray in the movie. "I bet you that, if he sets his mind to it, Mike can find my phone number, or he could find out where I live." From then on, it was a game of chase, because Murray wouldn't accept any offer that didn't come from Jordan himself.
Fortunately, Jordan Eventually Got a Hold of Murray and Asked It Himself
Murray probably had no intention of ever declining an offer to be in a movie with Michael Jordan, being the huge sports fan that he is, but, once people started asking him more often, he knew what was up and that he had to do everything to get Jordan to ask it himself. "There are people like that in the world," he says, "they don't want to owe anybody anything. So they'll have their people sort of ask you something." Jordan was never the kind of person to take no for an answer, but, not wanting to risk it, had other people approach Murray instead.
Of course, Murray had already made up his mind to join Space Jam, but he also wouldn't just tell anyone who asked him on Jordan's behalf about it; he wanted the big man himself to do it. "So I knew from day one exactly what was coming. I heard it from everybody. I probably heard from thirteen different people." And now the number is already bigger than nine. "The more people, the more I enjoyed it, because I knew, like: 'That son of a b*tch is just twisted, knowing he's got to ask me himself."
Eventually, things worked out for the best as Jordan was finally able to get a hold of Murray. "But it was good. Finally, he did it. God bless him," says Murray, getting a kick out of remembering the shenanigans. He says he doesn't recall where it happened, but that it was good that they were finally able to talk. "I was glad I was there, and I contributed to that movie." Thank God, because, without Murray, the Toon Squad would've had an even harder time defeating the Nerdlucks.
Getting Murray To Be In ‘Space Jam’ Has To Be Among Jordan’s Greatest Accomplishments
We don't need to list Michael Jordan's endless achievements in basketball, as his record speaks for itself. But, off court, getting Bill Murray to star in Space Jam with him has to be one of the Jumpman's greatest accomplishments. That's because Murray is known for being full of shenanigans when it comes to casting. For example, he has his own 1-800 phone number, and there is no guarantee that he'll return a call, sometimes spending days and even weeks without answering.
With this in mind, Murray telling people that Jordan himself should ask him to join Space Jam sounds like the best possible outcome for Jordan — it meant that Murray was interested and would definitely say yes to him. It was definitely better than getting a straight-up negative, or even risking not getting an answer at all. Getting basketball legends like Larry Bird and Charles Barkley to join was certainly easier.
Space Jam
- Release Date
- November 15, 1996
- Runtime
- 88 Minutes
- Director
- Joe Pytka
Cast
-
-
Bob Bergen -
-
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Herschel Weingrod, Timothy Harris, Steve Rudnick, Leo Benvenuti
Your comment has not been saved