Zendaya is young, talented, and fearless when taking on new projects out of her norm.
When it comes to her latest work, Zendaya is the voice behind the new Lola Bunny in the upcoming highly-anticipated animated movie, ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy,’ which is starring superstar NBA player Lebron James. The film is under the direction of Malcolm D. Lee, who is most known for directing the blockbuster hit ‘Girls Trip.’
Entertainment Weekly interviewed the young actress about her role in playing the voice of Lola Bunny in ‘Space Jam.’
When asked about how she felt about playing Lola Bunny in the feature film, Zendaya responded, “Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal. It’s like, “Wow, that’s an iconic character.” It was flattering because I got a call from Ryan Coogler, a producer on the film, and we share Oakland, so I’ve always wanted to work with him. So when he called, I was like, “I’m probably going to say yes to whatever you tell me.” And when he told me about this, I was like, ‘Whoa, this is a big deal.” They had already started that reimagining of what she was, and I guess there’s some spiritual connection between who Lola is in this film and maybe who Zendaya is, and maybe my voice would make sense for that new version of who she is. So I felt very lucky that they wanted to do that with me. And it was a nice small part, so there’s pressure for sure, but it could be worse — it could be all me. So there wasn’t too much weight on my shoulders. But it was a really special experience, and I just leaned on our incredible director Malcolm to take the lead and tell me what he wanted. And I really enjoyed myself.”
There was a recent controversy that occurred online when the new Lola Bunny was revealed. The new Lola Bunny is no longer depicted as overtly sexual, and this upset several fans of the original ‘Space Jam.’ Zendaya was shocked that many felt this way about her character.
Her response when asked about some fans not liking Lola Bunny’s new look, she reportedly responded, “I didn’t know that was going to happen either! I definitely know we love her, but I didn’t know it was going to be as much of a focus as it was. [Laughs] But I understand because she’s a lovable character. She’s very important, so I get it.”
Zendaya also included during the interview that she understands that people have grown a connection to the original character and have a “sense of protection” over Lola Bunny. She included, “I was like, listen, just as long as I did what the director and the producers and everybody wanted me to do, I’m just here to offer my services. [Laughs] No, but I felt really grateful just to have the opportunity.”
‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ opens in theaters across the U.S. and on HBO Max on Friday, July 16th. The film will be available for streaming on HBO Max for 31 days from the official theater release date.
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