Disney just released the trailer for its next live-action remake, Lilo and Stitch. Although there are many (this writer included) who would say it's far too recent of a film to get a remake. However, the new footage does have a few perks.
There's no denying that Stitch himself has a very healthy fanbase. Next to Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, he's probably one of Disney's most marketable characters. But will he be enough to bring in the box office bucks?
Lilo and Stitch: Fresh but familiar
Let's get the obvious out of the way, it looks great. The footage shown in the video above looks like what a live-action variant of this sci-fi classic should. In fact, the argument could be made that Disney should have made this a live-action film first. It's honestly one of the best first impressions the studio has given us in a long time.
Chris Sanders is back as his iconic blue alien, and Maia Kealoha is positively adorable as Lilo. All things being equal, this looks like a fun, familiar, family adventure that will have viewers flooding theatres this summer. However, that's also where some problems might arise.
Because this is still a remake, hundreds are going to be comparing it to the original animated classic from 2002. Even in the trailer, there are shot-for-shot callbacks to the cartoon that everyone will recognize, which can be beneficial to the film's identity. However, it also suggests that there is very little new to the reimagining.
Granted, the trailer does provide more than a few tweaks to the formula, and Stitch seems undeniably equal parts more naughty and more sympathetic. That's where the film's saving grace will certainly lie.
By little exaggeration, Stitch is the reason to see this movie, and it wouldn't surprise this writer a bit if he carried the whole production. However, there might be a purpose behind this decision as well.
Stitch isn't the only Disney icon getting a remake this year, and he might be crash-landing to theatres again just in time to clean up the mess Rachel Zegler's Snow White leaves behind. Of course, we won't truly know that until the box office reciepts are printed.
Joking aside, Disney seems to be pulling all the right moves with their newest live-action adaptation. Although last year's Mufasa: The Lion King was something of a mixed bag, Stitch might be the studio's newest hype man, especially after this year's Super Bowl stunt.
Lilo and Stitch hits theatres May 23, 2025