Space Jam filmed alternative ending featuring Michael Jordan that was never aired

The iconic Space Jam film starring Michael Jordan had a different ending which never aired.

The classic 1996 movie sees the Chicago Bulls legend come out of retirement to help the Looney Tunes characters in a basketball game against invading aliens.

Instead of being teammates with Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, 'MJ' linked up with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck for the 'Tune Squad' in a bid to avoid the characters becoming amusement park attractions.

Jordan, who had left basketball for baseball in 1993, produces an insane slam dunk at the death to secure victory over the Monstars, who had been stealing the talents of basketball icons.

He and his assistant Stan Podolak then return from their mission and Jordan is persuaded to return to the NBA, something he did in real life.

The film draws some inspiration from 'The Natural', a classic baseball blockbuster from 1984.

But there was set to be even more of a nod, with Space Jam director Joe Pytka revealing that the ending sequence was supposed to be very different but never made the cut.

He explained how the scene came to be taken out and admitted it was likely the wrong call to do so.

Image: Getty

"It's a tight game, the stands are full, and Michael looks up and his son gives him a sign to widen his stance, a call back to something he said at the beginning," he said, speaking to EW.

"Then Michael hits a home run and trots around the bases like Robert Redford, with all these flashes popping. Instead of everything falling from the broken lights like in The Natural, I had this special effect with everyone taking pictures with those little cheap cameras you could buy for a dollar.

"There was an urgency for him to come back for the game but then he comes back and there's no game.

"It always pissed me off that they didn't put that in there. The ending should have been him hitting the home run. Maybe it was running too long or it was too expensive to do [the effect]. Ivan Reitman, the producer, admitted to me they never knew how to end the film. It kind of meandered.

"I don't want to trash the film because it was such a success but it would have added a slight dimension to the film. Maybe people thought it was too corny."

Image: Getty

Jordan ended his brief foray with the Chicago White Sox and returned to the Bulls to win a further three NBA titles.

The film grossed $250.2 million worldwide and a sequel saw fellow NBA great LeBron James take the lead role in July 21.

Jordan was teased for a cameo and though old footage of him does feature, it was actually Michael B. Jordan who made a brief appearance in a genius comedic move.