Canadian voice actor Eric Bauza grew up watching Looney Tunes and says it was a dream come true to voice several animated characters in Space Jam: A New Legacy – and work with basketball legend LeBron James.
The Scarborough-native voices Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd and Marvin the Martian in the new film now playing in Cineplex Theatres.
“Like the movie, it is such a fevered dream. I can’t believe I get to be a part of something this big … what an honour,” Bauza tells Cineplex.
In Space Jam: A New Legacy, LeBron James plays a dad trying to find some common ground with his young son Dom (Cedric Joe). But when a rogue CGI humanoid (Don Cheadle) traps Dom in a digital space, James will need some help from Bugs Bunny and the gang to save him. An epic Tunes vs. Goons basketball game ensues where only one team can come out on top.
Not only was it an honour to voice such iconic characters, but as a basketball fan, working with James was also an incredible highlight for Bauza.
“You’re in the room with a world-class athlete, a guy who does so much charity work for his hometown and a family man himself. And then he still has time to produce a film this big … he’s awesome.”
After starting his career in animation as a character designer, Bauza has voiced numerous characters in film and television including the voice of Bugs Bunny for Looney Tunes Cartoons. He has been a fan of Looney Tunes from a young age and has the picture to prove it.
As a father to a five-year-old son, Bauza is thrilled that he can experience Space Jam: A New Legacy with him, adding that the film appeals to both long-time fans and a new generation of admirers.🎢 Six Flags 92 vs Six Flags 21 🏀🩳 #FollowYourDreams @spacejammovie #TuneSquad pic.twitter.com/9kIIVwFASv
— Eric Bauza (@bauzilla) July 4, 2021
“He’s seen the originals and he’s seen the more modern stuff I’ve been working on, and he loves it all the same.”
Space Jam: A New Legacy is now playing in Cineplex Theatres.