Summary

Lilo & Stitch's success prompts a live-action sequel
Character deviation in Lilo & Stitch 2 poses a challenge
Disney aims for fresh storytelling with Lilo & Stitch 2

Disney's Lilo & Stitch has 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. While Disney's decision to remake the animated hits continues to divide people, it's impossible to deny that this movie was worthwhile, given that it was made on a $100 million budget.

Unsurprisingly, Disney has already announced that Lilo & Stitch 2 is 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.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Disney Will Have To Think Outside The Box For Lilo & Stitch 2

The characters Are Going To Be Taken On An Original Journey

Lilo & Stitch proved to be a monster hit as 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 to Lilo & 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, with Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch being 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 on Disney to deliver something entertaining without 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 have told 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 of Beauty & 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 2 will 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 reason Maleficent was such a hit was that it told a fresh story, giving people a look at Sleeping Beauty from a different perspective. Mufasa: The Lion King grossed $723 million with an original story that 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, and Lilo & Stitch 2 might prove that.

Disney Might Find The Magic Formula With Lilo & Stitch 2

Creating New Stories With Well-Known Characters Might Be The Way Forward

Chris Sanders, Maia Kealoha, and Sydney Agudong in Lilo & Stitch

Disney reportedly hit pause on a lot of their planned live-action content following the box office bomb that was Snow White, but Lilo & Stitch 2 could 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 not Lilo & Stitch 2 delivers at the box office.

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