• Lilo & Stitch is set to hit theaters later this month
  • But fans were outraged by discrepancies to the 2002 original movie in the live action trailer 
  • Director Dean Fleischer Camp has addressed the concerns 
Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch Credit: Walt Disney Studios

Lilo & Stitch is set to hit theaters on May 23.

And, understandably, fans of the beloved animated Disney movie are concerned that the live action version will not be able to live up to the 2002 original.

However, director Dean Fleischer Camp has now hopefully set some viewers’ minds at ease by addressing their concerns – including the costume of one very important character. 

In the trailer for the new film, fans spotted that Agent Pleakley is without his drag disguise. 

Pleakley famously wears a dress, wig, and other traditionally feminine accessories throughout Lilo & Stitch and its sequels, in an effort to blend in with humans. His fellow agent, Jumba, dresses in traditionally masculine attire, so the two ‘pass’ as a heterosexual couple.

‘I tried!’ says Lilo & Stitch director 

@marceltheshellwshoeson #disney #liloandstitch #animation ♬ original sound – Marcel the Shell

However, in the live action trailer for Lilo & Stitch, Jumba – who is played by Zach Galifianakis –  and Pleakley – taken on by Billy Magnussen – are shown in disguise as humans using some kind of hologram technology. 

And Pleakley wears pants and a shirt. 

In a TikTok video, Fleischer Camp revealed how people have messaged him to ask about the discrepancy. 

The director spoke about how fans think he has “ruined” Pleakley’s disguise. 

“I tried,” he admitted, and showed concept art of the live-action character in drag.

Lilo & Stitch ‘terrified’ by marketing stunt  

Elsewhere, Lilo & Stitch fans were impressed – yet terrified! – by a fun marketing stunt from Disney. 

They have created a cute, but definitely very creepy, animatronic of everyone’s favorite blue alien to scan tickets at movie theaters. 

Sitting on top of the counter, a video shows the figure holding the scanner, before telling the cinema fans “thank you” and waving them into the showing. 

Fans went wild for ‘Stitch’ online – as his appearance divided opinions. 

“Gotta admit, seeing Stitch scan tickets is kinda cute… but those teeth are giving me nightmares,” wrote one.

However, others loved the bizarre move, and said, “Unfortunately I need one.”

Sophie Cockerham is a freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience. Her writing can be seen across titles such as Grazia, The Mail on Sunday, Femail, Metro, Stylist, RadioTimes.com, HuffPost,...