San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was first called “an alien” by LeBron James nearly a year before he arrived in the NBA. Subsequently, Wemby fully embraced the nickname, using an alien logo in merchandise and branding, including his signature shoes.
Now, the Frenchman is bringing his extraterrestrial self to the entertainment industry in a multitude of ways. This week, Wemby made a cameo in the season premiere of the 13th season of “Futurama” in the form of a life-sized alien basketball player.
Victor Wembanyama stars in “Futurama”
The scene starts with Wemby blocking a shot from Ethan “Bubblegum” Tate, the leader of the Harlem Globetrotters, during a pickup game. Then, Tate introduces Bender, the robot, to his friend, “Wem-ben-yum-yum,” which leads to Wemby correcting him. Bender then asks the pair of giants what it’s like being tall, leading to the NBA All-Star offering sage advice to the robot protagonist.
“Bender, the true measure of a man is not his physical stature,” he says, consoling the robot. “Being tall has some downsides — I mean, sometimes, women are into you just for your height.”
Wemby then humorously mocks Bender for his height, suggesting that life must be “legit rough” while telling him to “keep trying.” The sequence results in Bender spiraling out of control and making a deal with the Robot Devil, as they often do in the popular animated series.
Victor Wembanyama launching “Alien Dunk”
There’s more to Wembanyama, the alien, on the silver screen. According to Variety’s Elsa Keslassy, Wemby, who owns the copyrights to “the alien” moniker, is set to star in a new animated series called “Alien Dunk,” which will blend basketball and science fiction themes. The series will follow Victor, the protagonist, who teams with his sister Eve and alien misfits to compete in an intergalactic basketball league.
“Seeing myself animated is an incredible experience, and it brings together two things I love: basketball and space,” Wemby told Variety. “The most exciting part is creating a universe for kids to enjoy, filled with fun, imagination, and inspiration for young fans all over the world.”
The report added that France’s TF1 network has already green-lit the project, but did not provide a specific launch date. The series will be produced by STIM Studio, known for popular shows such as “The Wild Robot” and “Garfield.”