Lilo & Stitch star Billy Magnussen shares his hopes for how the live-action remake will be received. Magnussen is playing the alien Agent Pleakley, who is forced to hunt down Experiment 626, also known as Stitch, alongside Stitch’s creator, Dr. Jumba Jookiba. Lilo & Stitch‘s live-action cast features comedic actor Zach Galifianakis in the role of Jumba, while Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong have been cast as sisters Lilo and Nani Pelekai.
In an interview with Collider, Magnussen emphasized how the live-action Lilo & Stitch should be viewed as a different story than the 2002 animated film. Despite certain changes, he asserted that the remake would still be grounded in the same themes as the original, including the importance of family and belonging. He expressed his hopes that viewers will be open-minded in the spirit of the film. Check out Magnussen’s comments below:
I hope they embrace it as its own story. When they make these live-action films, sometimes I think people hold on to what the other one was, and they’re not in competition. Finding family and friends, being an outcast, and finding your community and your family. I would hope you wouldn’t fight that, and embrace that.
How Much Should Be Changed In Disney’s Live-Action Remakes?
It Is A Question Disney Is Still Trying To Answer
Magnussen’s comments raise the difficult question of how much should or should not be changed in Disney’s live-action remakes. The films have been criticized for not doing anything new other than depicting familiar scenes in live-action, but also have been criticized for straying too far from their animated counterparts. This leaves the remakes in an impossible situation where they cannot win either way, as they become too similar or too different from their predecessors.
With more live-action remakes on the way, Disney needs to figure out how to best strike the balance between retaining the original’s thematic spirit and making the inevitable changes.
Sometimes, the remakes’ changes are an improvement on the original story. The 2023 version of The Little Mermaid achieved this by better fleshing out Prince Eric and how the romantic relationship develops between him and Ariel, and giving Ariel a new solo song, “For the First Time,” providing more insight into her mindset when she is unable to speak. The issue with Lilo & Stitch is that there is little to improve or update, as the original film has actually aged quite well, especially where Nani’s character is concerned.
Magnussen seemingly indicates that many specific details will be changed in the live-action remake, potentially adding to the backlash against Lilo & Stitch’s controversial casting. If the central themes truly remain the same, though, Lilo & Stitch may have a chance of working well. With more live-action remakes on the way, Disney needs to figure out how to best strike the balance between retaining the original’s thematic spirit and making the inevitable changes.
Source: Collider
