A new clip of Space Jam: A New Legacy features Zendaya voicing the much-loved Lola Bunny character—but viewers aren't convinced about the voice match.
Fans of the Euphoria star have been reacting to the latest clip of the reboot, which features the updated Lola Bunny speaking for the first time.
The interest in Zendaya's interpretation of Lola's voice led to her name becoming a trending Twitter topic on Sunday.
"So cute to watch them bicker, when everyone knows this is Lola's team," Lola Bunny says in the clip. The film is set to be released on July 16.
Space Jam: A New Legacy follows LeBron James on an epic adventure mockumentary-style alongside Bugs Bunny and the Tune Squad.
Lola Bunny later adds in the trailer: "When it's crunch time, the ball is going to be in my paws."
However, many can't seem to separate the character's voice from the actress, with some comparing Zendaya's take to the original actress behind the voice of Lola Bunny in 1996's Space Jam—Kath Soucie.
"I mean...I know it's Zendaya's voice and she sounds JUST like Zendaya but that s*** doesn't sound like Lola Bunny to me I'm sorry," reads one tweet.
I mean…I know it’s Zendaya’s voice and she sounds JUST like Zendaya but that shit doesn’t sound like Lola Bunny to me I’m sorry. pic.twitter.com/752uO3560w
— TASK the Ol' Nerdy Bastard #StopAsianHate (@UpToTASK) June 6, 2021
"Absolutely not. Kath Soucie IS Lola Bunny, and I'm completely over ditching actual VAs for celebrities," said another.
Absolutely not. Kath Soucie IS Lola Bunny, and I'm completely over ditching actual VAs for celebrities. https://t.co/5r0UEm7yTH
— 💜💛💙JemStarGold💙💛💜 (@JemStarGold) June 6, 2021
While another person added: "This is weird. Why is zendaya's voice coming out of Lola bunny?"
This is weird. Why is zendaya’s voice coming out of Lola bunny? https://t.co/puvCyEOJjM
— Robert Manion (@robertmanion) June 7, 2021
"i'm sorry but this is just. Not it... like, where's lola bunny?? all i hear is zendaya," said another.
Another tweet reads: "i know i'm not the first person to say it but for god's sake they should've just got kath soucie back."
The problem with using famous people to do these voices is that they (their own personality) tend to show up in the performances. I don't see Lola Bunny here. I see a cartoon bunny version of Zendaya. Sigh. This sucks. https://t.co/N1sVWHrRqq
— Dave Dodgers 🇹🇹 (@davedodgers) June 6, 2021
While another viewer pointed out: "The problem with using famous people to do these voices is that they (their own personality) tend to show up in the performances. I don't see Lola Bunny here. I see a cartoon bunny version of Zendaya. Sigh. This sucks."
zendaya is a good voice actor but she doesn't fit lola bunny since lola is more energetic and high pitched
— luci on a limit (@luciferverse) June 6, 2021
"Zendaya is a good voice actor but she doesn't fit lola bunny since lola is more energetic and high pitched," said another.
Lola Bunny has been voiced by a number of actresses over the years, but prolific voice actress Soucie first brought the character to life in Space Jam and then in subsequent Looney Tunes spin-offs.
Soucie is also known as the voice of Linka in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Dexter's Mom in Dexter's Laboratory and Phil, Lil and their mother Betty DeVille in Rugrats.
From 2011 to 2014, Bridesmaids actress Kristen Wiig, voiced Lola Bunny in The Looney Tunes Show.
The new Lola Bunny character made headlines when her desexualized redesign sparked intense debate.
Space Jam: A New Legacy director Malcolm D. Lee told Entertainment Weekly that he was caught off guard by the first movie's "very sexualized" depiction of the character, and said: "This is 2021. It's important to reflect the authenticity of strong, capable female characters."
