After some rumors and leaks, WB’s upcoming MultiVersus game has revealed a pretty star-studded cast of characters. Classics like Batman and Superman will be present in the platformer-brawler alongside newer characters like Fin, Jake, Garnet, and even Arya Stark. Possibly one of the most enticing aspects of these characters is the return of their voice actors which should provide an organic experience for fans that won’t make voice lines and character dialog in MultiVersus feel uncanny.
This flexes the fact that WB has the rights to a lot of different media properties and these characters show that MultiVersus is willing to pit fan-favorites against one another regardless of the franchises' original target audiences. This could eventually include some of the biggest names that WB has worked with and on that extensive list is one of the NBA’s greatest players, LeBron James. As the leading actor and character in Space Jam 2, he helped to reprise a franchise for a new generation and is no stranger to video game appearances. His likeness and stats are already present in the NBA 2k series and during the summer of 2021 players could get LeBron James in Fortnite.
LeBron James in MultiVersus
Considering these two aspects of LeBron James’ video game career he seems like an obvious choice as a future character for MultiVersus. Rumors in October already predicted LeBron James as a DLC fighter in MultiVersus and the recent Space Jam 2 movie could have been painting a bigger picture than audiences originally realized. With the number of cameos present in Space Jam 2 several characters have already been confirmed in MultiVersus and in the future even more could appear from the crossover movie as well as other WB properties.
On top of this, LeBron James’ icon status would make him a perfect addition to the game. MultiVersus has already stressed using familiar faces and voices for its characters making the NBA legend a rather straightforward addition. From iconic moves like his chalk toss ritual to unique voice lines LeBron James could become a fan favorite. His already high popularity and easy recognition to almost everyone that’s ever heard of the NBA could also make LeBron James an asset for the game’s longevity and emphasize how far ahead MultiVersus is compared to its counterparts. He’s also become an icon across the globe not only for his professional exploits but also for his activism in and out of the spotlight.
These aspects of the superstar's character also show that even though LeBron James has been slammed for Space Jam 2 his addition to MultiVersus wouldn’t have to focus on the negative. Video game crossovers continue to grow in popularity and the hype that has already been built around the new MultiVersus game only seems to confirm this. His name recognition could be a major marketing point for the game in the future and his appearance in Space Jam 2 could be used as a foundation. Leveraging LeBron James and Space Jam 2 to move MultiVersus forward could also provide a marketing avenue that’s both engaging and fun.
Fighters can often live and die on the characters and names they incorporate and LeBron James is one that can cover a lot of bases. Incorporating him could take a note from the intense reveals of the Super Smash Bros. series and kick things off with a major addition right away. This could attract both general fans of LeBron James and pique the interest of prospective platform brawler fans. The genre itself has seen significant growth over the past decade, and WB pooling as much as it can into making MultiVersus an iconic experience could help the game stand out more than it already does with a LeBron James character leading the way.
MultiVersus is set to release in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
