
Zendaya's voice acting in the new Space Jam sequel has divided the internet.
This past weekend, a promo clip featuring the star as the voice of Lola Bunny was released online. That said, the sneak peek proved to be pretty polarizing, as the vast majority of commenters appeared to be less than impressed with the offering, especially since many believed the Euphoria star's voice didn't quite match up with the animated character's persona.
After all, the main criticism was that Zendaya didn't exactly channel the "sultry 'don't call me doll' attitude" that made Lola one of the stand out stars of the original film, with some even opining that she could've "at least be a bit more animated with her approach."
A new clip of Zendaya voicing Lola Bunny for #SpaceJamANewLegacy has been released. pic.twitter.com/I2VadxmeNZ
— Lights, Camera, Pod (@LightsCameraPod) June 6, 2021
I love zendaya, but this just isn’t right. She’s missing that sultry “don’t call me doll” attitude
— Introverted Lil Deviant •͈⚇•͈ (@clickclackBOOMx) June 6, 2021
She could at least be a bit more animated with her approach. Sounds like she said her lines and sat on her phone while she recorded them.
— ultimate movie simp (@simpmovies) June 6, 2021
Not only that, but even self-proclaimed fans of the actress seemed to take issue with her performance, responding with a number of cringe GIFs and comments like, "uhhhh this isn't it."
"Yeah I'm not feeling this," a third Zendaya stan wrote. "I love zendaya but she just sounds like she not even trying to be the character at all!"
They added, "She just said shit! Here you go, give me my money."
Love love love Zendaya but pic.twitter.com/60Ci5YApwa
— ₱📸 (@TheAsgardian) June 6, 2021
I love Zendaya but uhhhh this isn't it
— Sep ❤️🔥 (@SeptemberRains) June 6, 2021
I love zendaya but she just sounds like she not even trying to be the character at all! She just said shit! Here you go, give me my money 😂
— Jada Holliman (@golden_lajada) June 6, 2021
Similarly, critics also contended that Zendaya used her "natural voice rather than a voice for Lola," as others began to discuss the studio's casting process by saying that, "This is what happens when studios forget that actual voice actors exist."
"This is a prime example of how good voice actors are at their jobs and why they should be far more respected," as another viral tweet stated. "You cannot just cast a popular actress in a voice role and expect her to be able to do the job at the same level of quality as a professional voice actor."
this is what happens when studios forget that actual voice actors exist
— A (@AlanMIsHere) June 6, 2021
this is a prime example of how good voice actors are at their jobs and why they should be far more respected. you cannot just cast a popular actress in a voice role and expect her to be able to do the job at the same level of quality as a professional voice actor
— brose (@BrosephSZN) June 6, 2021
Granted, a few more went on to argue that it wasn't exactly Zendaya's fault as it sounded like the mixing was the real problem, especially seeing as how the clip didn't "make it feel like it's in the room that's she's in."
Zendaya sounds great but something about the mixing doesn't make it feel like it's in the room that's she's in, it feels like she's talking next to me in a closet
— EthanFillerTV (@EthanFiller) June 6, 2021
However, others also continued to defend the actress by expressing confusion over whether people expected "Zendaya not to sound like Zendaya" in the film, with a second saying, "I like this. Why is everyone hating???."
Did y’all expect Zendaya not to sound like Zendaya I’m confused
— 𝐊𝐈𝐌𝐘𝐇𝐑. 𓂀 (@rhymik_) June 6, 2021
i like this ❤️ why is everyone hating???
— sprwhlkn (@noislutando) June 6, 2021
She sounds perfect 😍 pic.twitter.com/rsupCj7zPn
— Dami (@KingDami5299) June 6, 2021
she sounds fine to me some of yall are overreacting
— Patrick Nestor III (@PattyNest) June 6, 2021
That said, neither Zendaya nor the studio have yet to respond to the online discourse.
Photo via Getty / Frazer Harrison
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