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15 Mar, 2025
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Disney fans outraged by huge change to Lilo & Stitch character in remake
@Source: mirror.co.uk
Disney recently dropped the first trailer for the highly anticipated live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, a beloved animated classic, but fans weren't afraid to voice their opinions over one major change that has caused a stir online. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch is set to hit cinemas in May 2025. Interestingly, the film was initially set to appear on Disney+, but due to the immense popularity of the beloved 2002 animated original, it has now been upgraded to a full theatrical release. The film follows the story of Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl who simply wants to have a best friend and makes a wish upon a shooting star. Her wish aligns with the crash landing of Stitch, a mischievous, dog-like alien experiment created to be a destructive force. After Lilo decides to take the blue creature in, the two form an unlikely but special friendship. According to the official synopsis: "With nosy social workers and pursuing aliens banging on the door, the two bond over a shared sense of family and win the day." The film is expected to centre on the Hawaiian concept of "ohana", which means family, and the importance of looking after one another, no matter the circumstances. While the announcement of a live-action Lilo & Stitch adaptation created a wave of excitement among long-time fans, it didn’t take long for the internet to begin pointing out a few changes that don't quite match the spirit of the original film. One of the biggest changes has been the redesign of the characters Jumba and Pleakley, who, in the live-action version, will activate digital human skins to appear as actors Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen. While the digital human skins are an obvious change, Pleakley received more than just a simple update. In the original animated film, Pleakley, a skinny, one-eyed green alien, and Jumba, his partner, work together to capture Stitch after he escapes their home planet. Pleakley, in particular, often dresses up in drag in an attempt to blend in with Earth's inhabitants. However, in the new trailer, Pleakley no longer wears these extravagant costumes and instead uses a digital human disguise to appear as a man. This change has disappointed many fans, especially those who enjoyed the humour and camp of Pleakley's original drag disguise. Fans quickly took to social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their frustration over the alteration. One Twitter user wrote: "Copping out by making Jumba and Peakley wear digital human skins is so stupid. Like isn't it a whole joke that they’re obviously aliens in cheap disguises." Another user commented: "They gave peakley normal human disguises instead of their girly dress ups? CHOPP," referring to the disappointment of the change in Pleakley's character. A third user added: "Disney has lost what made them special. They used to create amazing stories without worrying about opinions. Now, they’re too focused on being ‘appropriate.’" While many are still happy to see Lilo & Stitch come to life in a new format, it seems this creative decision has taken away the excitement. The move away from the original film’s humour has raised questions about Disney’s evolving approach to live-action remakes, with some feeling that the company may be trying too hard to please everyone and lose the charm that made its original animated films so unique.
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