Space Jam: A New Legacy is providing some slam dunk casting, as Emmy-winning actress Zendaya will be voicing Lola Bunny in the upcoming movie starring LeBron James.
Welcome to the Jam, @Zendaya 🏀 https://t.co/BAp4UZuwkf pic.twitter.com/Z9wYts9IFp
— Space Jam: A New Legacy (@spacejammovie) April 3, 2021
Zendaya as the new Lola Bunny is a major casting coup, considering director Malcolm D. Lee’s mission to introduce a more ‘fully-realised’ Lola. This comes after Lee revealed that when he watched Space Jam, the portrayal of Lola ‘was not politically correct’.
‘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’, he added of the 1996 version of Lola in the film.
Tunes vs. Goons. Watch LeBron James and Bugs Bunny in the new trailer for Space Jam: A New Legacy. In theaters and streaming on HBO Max* – July 16. #SpaceJamMovie pic.twitter.com/7KOEPJP06i
— Space Jam: A New Legacy (@spacejammovie) April 3, 2021
In preparing for the new-and-improved LeBron James’ New Legacy, the filmmaker set out to ‘reflect the authenticity of strong, capable female characters’.
Lee explained, ‘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. For us, it was, let’s ground her athletic prowess, her leadership skills, and make her as full a character as the others.’
What’s Up Doc? Trailer tomorrow. Hold onto your brains for the mind blow. pic.twitter.com/0jHxO6Ooib
— Malcolm D. Lee (@malcolmdlee) April 3, 2021
And who better to live up to that role than Zendaya? Space Jam: A New Legacy is expected to hit theatres sometime in July.
