Bill Murray had just one request that he made of Michael Jordan before agreeing to join Space Jam.
Bill Murray has revealed he had one simple request before agreeing to star alongside Michael Jordan in the 1996 film Space Jam.
The actor said he wanted the NBA legend to personally ask him to join the project instead of sending others to make the request on his behalf.
Murray wanted Jordan to personally invite him to the film
Speaking on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Bill Murray said he held out despite hearing from several people that Jordan wanted him in the movie.
Murray explained that he wanted Michael Jordan to make the request himself rather than rely on intermediaries.
“About nine people said, ‘You know, Michael really wants you to be in Space Jam,’” he recalled. “And all you have to do is nod. That’s all you gotta do. But I thought, I bet you Mike can find my phone number if he sets his mind to it.”
“There are people like that in the world,” he said. “They feel like they never want to be indebted to anybody for anything. They don’t want to owe anybody anything, so they’ll have their people sort of ask something.”
The actor admitted that the longer Jordan took to ask, the more fun he had with it. Eventually, Jordan did call to personally extend the invitation, and Murray finally agreed to join the production.
“I heard it from everybody. I probably heard it from like 13 different people. And the more people, the more I enjoyed it, because I knew (he) was twisting, knowing he’s gotta ask me himself.”
“I was glad I was there, and I contributed to that movie,” Murray told the Kelces. Reflecting on his experience, he added with a grin that Jordan was “probably the best shooting guard I’ve worked with.”
Michael Jordan’s personal invitation sealed Bill Murray’s Space Jam appearance
After weeks of indirect messages, Bill Murray said Michael Jordan’s personal request convinced him to say yes.
The actor appeared as himself in the film, which paired Jordan with the Looney Tunes cast in a live-action and animated crossover that became a global hit.
Murray’s story offered a glimpse into both men’s personalities — Jordan’s reluctance to ask for favors and Murray’s sense of humor about the standoff.
The actor said that while it started as a joke, it turned into one of his favorite memories from his long career in Hollywood.
Read More: Why Bill Murray ‘didn’t want’ to play golf with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird on Space Jam set
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