A sequel to the iconic basketball movie Space Jam is one which basketball fans everywhere have been waiting for for years, but it is yet to arrive, and according to the movie's director, it's going to be some time before it does.

Since the first Space Jam movie featuring Michael Jordan first released in 1996, fans have been dying for a sequel. Even the company that is producing the movie, Warner Brothers, want the movie to happen.

However, Space Jam 2's director, Justin Lin, has said the film isn't going to be made anytime soon as he doesn't feel like it is the right time.

Lin said, according to Fred Topel from Slash Film: "Warner Brothers has been great. I feel like it's been very precious. Everybody at the studio's been calling, 'Let's go, let's go' and I'm like, (it's) not right yet.

"To me, the challenge is we have actors who are also professional athletes, so schedule is something that is tough. I've been really wanting to push that genre, but to do that you need the right amount of time.

"So there's a logistical challenge but also creatively, to do a sequel 20 years later with a new cast and also to be able to, in a relevant way, bring the Looney Tunes back. That's very important to me to do it right. I feel I've done nine different iterations already and we're going to keep going, but we're getting closer every day."

One of the main challenges the movie has is finding time to film with Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James, who was confirmed to be in Michael Jordan's role in the sequel last year.

"It's a different challenge because he’s a professional basketball player," Lin explained. "He's not retired. When the first one happened, it was during a strike and Michael Jordan was retired. From what I've learned in film, you have to be passionate and when you're ready, you'll make it happen."

So if the film isn't going to come until James is retired, that means production could start during next offseason, as his contract with the Cavaliers expires at the end of next season. However, if his recent Instagram posts are anything to go by, he isn't going to be retiring from the NBA anytime soon.