After the release of a new trailer for Space Jam: A New Legacy, it was confirmed that Zendaya, the Emmy award-winning star of HBO’s Euphoria and MJ from the newest Spider-Man films, would be voicing Lola Bunny. She’ll star in the upcoming reboot of the Space Jam franchise alongside basketball star LeBron James.
“Welcome to the Jam, @Zendaya,” tweeted out the film’s official Twitter page after the news was reported by Entertainment Weekly.
The film will follow LeBron James as he’s thrust into “The Serververse” where his son is taken away by an evil algorithm known as Al-G Rhythm, played by Don Cheadle. In order to save his son, James must team up with the Looney Tunes and compete in basketball against Al-G’s Goon Squad.
Director Malcolm D. Lee recently commented on the original film’s version of Lola Bunny, calling it “politically incorrect” and “very sexualized.” He also talked about how the new film’s take on the character changes things up.
“This is 2021. It’s important to reflect the authenticity of strong, capable female characters,” Lee added. “She probably has the most human characteristics of the Tunes; she doesn’t have a thing like a carrot or a lisp or a stutter. So 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.”
Space Jam: A New Legacy will hit theaters and HBO Max July 16, 2021. Zendaya is also set to appear as Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune and she’ll reprise her role as MJ in the upcoming Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home.