Zendaya has been added to the Space Jam: A New Legacy cast as the voice of Lola Bunny.
The Euphoria actress will be tasked with introducing a more “fully-realized” Lola, director Malcolm D. Lee told Entertainment Weekly.
“Lola was not politically correct,” he said of the version in 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.”
Lee said that Lola is getting an updated look for the LeBron James-led film. She will no longer rock a crop top and short shorts, and she will have a more authentic voice. Lola will be portrayed as “feminine without being objectified.”
“For us, it was, let’s ground her athletic prowess, her leadership skills, and make her as full a character as the others,” Lee said.
In the sequel to the 1997 classic, Zendaya will star alongside James, who teams up with Bugs Bunny to win a basketball game.
Space Jam: A New Legacy will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on July 16.
