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'Space Jam'-Themed Ad Pits Bugs Bunny and NBA Star Blake Griffin Against the Monstars

It’s the 20th anniversary of Space Jam, which — depending on your view of that 1996 live-action-animation hybrid featuring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes gang — is either cause for wistful celebration, or reason to lament the endless nostalgia for subpar pop-culture hits of yesteryear. Foot Locker is banking on the former with its latest TV commercial, which revives the film’s villains, the Monstars — and incorporates a familiar wascally wabbit.

Related: ‘Space Jam’ Turns 20: How Michael Jordan’s Oddball Cartoon Mashup Became a Beloved ’90s Time Capsule

In the ad (watch it above), the Monstars are back to crush all challengers on the basketball court. As current NBA star Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls narrates, we witness the Monstars’ reign of terror, which ultimately spreads to a neighborhood court, where a group of friends are locked out by the behemoth ballers. To compete with this outer-space incursion, the locals are directed to Foot Locker, where none other than Bugs Bunny is waiting (with a “What’s Up, Jocks?” greeting) to give them the necessary athletic gear to win. Oh, and he also gifts them L.A. Clippers all-star Blake Griffin, which is probably more useful to their cause than any pair of Air Jordans.

Related: ‘Space Jam’ Reunion: Bugs Bunny Kicks Up a New Partnership With Michael Jordan

Hot on the heels of Burger King’s commercial featuring Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro bonding over some cheesy tots, this Foot Locker spot underscores how throwback movie-themed promos have become a go-to strategy for today’s marketers. Although considering the ongoing talk about a LeBron James-headlined Space Jam 2, this newest ad may also be a trial balloon for big-screen things to come.

Watch ‘Space Jam’ Stars Bob Bergen and Bill Farmer Go Head-to-Head in a Voice-Off: