‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ Sparks Fan Debate On Twitter
The beloved animation-meets-live action classic Space Jam is getting re-vamped with Lebron James taking over Michael Jordan’s iconic role, 25 years later.
James posted four images of the upcoming film Space Jam: A New Legacy on Twitter:
Y’ALL NOT READY FOR THIS SQUAD!!!! 😱🐰🥕👑 @spacejammovie @EW pic.twitter.com/8ogu758fsO
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 4, 2021
Fans noticed a major difference — specifically with Lola Bunny’s new look. Gossip web site TMZ reports Director Malcolm D. Lee has “reworked” Lola Bunny’s role for the reboot, claiming he wasn’t comfortable with how she was presented in the 1996 original.
In an Entertainment Weekly interview, Lee said, “Lola [Bunny] was very sexualized, like Betty Boop mixed with Jessica Rabbit. 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.”
The importance of portraying the “authenticity of strong, capable female characters” led Lee to the decision to showcase Lola as “feminine without being objectified.” Showcasing her athletic prowess, leadership skills, and “make her as full a character as the others.”
Below, a side-by-side photo of a fan art drawing of 1996’s Lola Bunny and the 2021 modernized version:
https://twitter.com/drakecereal/status/1367558270961946626?s=20
Here are some Twitter reactions of the character changes:
Everyone's pissed about #LolaBunny cause 1/2 of us are complaining about PC cancel culture and the other 1/2 knows the "problem" wasn't how Lola looked in #SpaceJam but how she was viewed & treated (sexualized love interest & a damsel) by the filmmakers and the other characters. pic.twitter.com/ZBJfoPfmg7
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) March 5, 2021
I don’t care that Lola Bunny is dressed less sexy in Space Jam 2 but I am unbelievably exhausted by the idea that the way you communicate that a female character is to be taken seriously is by removing her boobs
— Lux Alptraum 🦋 luxalptraum.com (@LuxAlptraum) March 4, 2021
People finding out they de-sexualized Lola Bunny’s character design for Space Jam 2pic.twitter.com/ZPZe2w9g4x
— david (@davidefinitely) March 4, 2021
I have something for all those mourning lola bunny: pic.twitter.com/g55iX7cZKS
— Denims (@DenimsTV) March 4, 2021
Space Jam: A New Legacy premieres July 16th in theaters and on HBO Max.
