Summary
Disney’sLilo & Stitchhas proven to be a box office success, grossing $945 million worldwide. The iconic alien proved that he’s just as adorable in a live-action format. WhileDisney’sdecision to remake the animated hits continues to divide people, it’s impossible to deny thatthis movie was worthwhile, given that it was made on a $100 million budget.
Unsurprisingly, Disney has already announced thatLilo & Stitch 2is happening, proving that the studio isn’t finished reimagining these characters. While continuing the story of Experiment 626 might be a risk, this movie could end up being precisely what Disney needs for its live-action department.
Disney Will Have To Think Outside The Box For Lilo & Stitch 2
The characters Are Going To Be Taken On An Original Journey
Lilo & Stitchproved to be a monster hitas audiences clearly care a lot about the characters, as the story was essentially the same as the 2002 original. While there were a few tweaks, most notably with the ending, it followed the animation closely, providing all the key moments people wanted to see.From Stitch being Elvis Presley to the Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride, no major scenes were left on the cutting room floor; therefore, people knew what they were getting themselves into when heading into it. However, that will not be the case when it comes toLilo & Stitch 2, and Disney will be forced to think outside the box and devise clever and unique ways to continue the story of these titular characters. This will be particularly tricky for the other aliens, as there’s technically no reason for them to remain on Earth by the end of the original.
Disney did create a sequel to the animated movie, withLilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitchbeing released in 2005. However, given that it was a direct-to-video film, it’s doubtful that Disney will be looking to repeat that plot in the same way, and that means all of the characters are going to be taken in totally new directions that people won’t know ahead of time, which means the pressure will be onDisney to deliver something entertainingwithout relying on what has already been achieved.
Lilo & Stitch 2 could Take Disney’s live-action movies To A New World
Fresh Stories Are Exactly What Audiences Want
Typically, whenever Disney has created a live-action movie, they havetold stories that people are already familiar with, often making little effort to produce something fresh.While there have been additional scenes or characters added to the likes ofBeauty & the Beast, most of the time, Disney plays it safe. It’s one of the reasons audiences dislike the Disney live-action adaptations, because they often feel like lazy cash grabs, as the company knows that fans will latch onto these popular characters, and there’s not as much work that must be done. However,Lilo & Stitch 2will require a lot of thought to be put into it to ensure that it lives up to the same quality that the original story provides. Even though that will be a challenge, it’s something that Disney fans are crying out for.
One reasonMaleficentwas such a hitwas that it told a fresh story, giving people a look atSleeping Beautyfrom a different perspective.Mufasa: The Lion Kinggrossed $723 million with an original storythat hadn’t been seen before in an animated format, showcasing that fans want new content. The decision to use intellectual properties that are well established makes sense, as it mitigates the risk that Disney is taking, andLilo & Stitch 2might prove that.
Disney Might Find The Magic Formula With Lilo & Stitch 2
Creating New Stories With Well-Known Characters Might Be The Way Forward
Disney reportedly hit pause on a lot of their planned live-action content following thebox office bomb that wasSnow White, butLilo & Stitch 2could go on to provide the formula that the company needs to move forward with these types of movies. If the film delivers another financial success, it will prove that fans are happy to see live-action adaptations, as long as they have a fresh take. That could end up being the formula that Disney uses moving forward, which might be the way of bridging the gap between those who complain about these movies and those who love them. Using characters that are established in pop culture history from Disney’s epic animated back catalog, while telling new tales that people have never seen before, would give everyone a reason to go out and watch the film. While some people might skip the live-action remakes when they’re a beat-for-beat retelling of what has already been done, giving people something that hasn’t happened before might drive people to watch the film immediately rather than wait for Disney+. However, a lot of that will be down to whether or notLilo & Stitch 2delivers at the box office.
