Photo: ISABEL INFANTES/AFP/Getty Images
Zendayajust made her debut voicing Lola Bunny inSpace Jam: A New Legacyand fans are going crazy.
On Sunday, ESPN shared a six-minute ad about the upcoming film on Twitter, creating a parody of the network’s own “30 for 30” series and poking fun at some of the “tension” that’s going to come with the animated basketball showdown.
But what stole the show from the lengthy video — and has fans talking online — is the reveal of Zendaya’s voice as Lola Bunny for the first time. The beloved character briefly appears mid-way through the clip when Lebron James calls Lola the “greatest sidekick ever.” Zendaya’s voice comes through her character as she says, “When it’s crunch time, the ball is going to be in my paws.”
The 24-year-old was announced as a member of the cast in April, set to portray a completely reimagined version of Lola.
Space Jam: A New Legacy(2021).Warner Bros. Pictures
InEW’sNew Legacycover story, director Malcom D. Lee revealed that when he watchedSpace Jamfor the first time, the portrayal of one Bugs Bunny’s love interest left him shocked. “Lola was not politically correct,” he said of the 1996 film. “This is a kids' movie, why is she in a crop top? It just felt unnecessary, but at the same time there’s a long history of that in cartoons.”
Now, ahead of the LeBron James-ledNew Legacysequel, theGirls Tripfilmmaker wants to “reflect the authenticity of strong, capable female characters,” announcing that Lola will be reintroduced alongside the Amazons ofWonder Woman.
“We reworked a lot of things, not only her look, like making sure she had an appropriate length on her shorts and was feminine without being objectified, but gave her a real voice,” explained Lee. “For us, it was, let’s ground her athletic prowess, her leadership skills, and make her as full a character as the others.”
Space Jam: A New Legacypremieres July 16 in theaters and on HBO Max.
source: people.com
