First reactions to the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch (2002) have been overwhelmingly positive, but some fans have taken issue with one character: Pleakley.

Over two decades since the OG Lilo & Stitch hit screens, the film remains one of Disney’s most unique tales. Instead of taking inspiration from a fairytale or novel, it focused on a unique story of Lilo, a lonely young girl from Hawaii who unknowingly adopts the extraterrestrial Experiment 626, AKA Stitch, who was designed to unleash pure chaos.

Lilo looking at Stitch in the live action film.
Credit: Disney

One of the reasons the film has always worked so well is because it tackles relatively mature themes, and doesn’t shy away from that on screen. Lilo and her older sister, Nani, have recently suffered a heavy loss. Nani, as a young adult, has also taken on the overwhelming responsibility of being both sister and guardian, and is in a constant battle with social worker Cobra Bubbles, who threatens to have Lilo put in care unless she proves she can step up to the challenge.

If the first trailer is anything to go by, the live-action film is set to give these themes as much of a platform as the original animation. Even more impressively, Stitch manages to look cute instead of a terrifying CGI monstrosity. However, it also seems like Disney has deemed one much more minor plot point too controversial to include in this adaptation: Pleakley and his affinity for women’s clothing.

What Has Disney Done To Pleakley in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ 2.0?!

In the original film, Pleakley is one of two aliens sent to earth to try and retrieve Stitch. Obviously, two aliens rampaging around Hawaii are sure to attract attention, so Pleakley and his companion, Jumba, decide to (badly) disguise themselves.

Pleakley panics after Jumba (in disguise) reveals his alien form.
Credit: Disney

Judging by the trailer, this is still the case. Pleakley and Jumba – portrayed by Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis – are shown in disguise as humans. Unlike the animation, however, they look fully, totally human, and not like poorly disguised aliens, with only one brief shot showing Pleakley in his alien form.

In Pleakley’s case, this means he just looks like any regular human man. But in the animation, Pleakley is known to have a particular affinity for women’s clothing. In one scene, he’s shown trying on a wig. When Jumba decides he wants to try on the wig, Pleakley refuses and yells “You’re just jealous because I’m pretty!”

Fast forward 20 years, however, and it seems like Pleakley will be wearing typically male attire instead of women’s clothing.

While it’s one thing for the characters to just be shown as regular humans, we begrudgingly understand the decision. It’s one thing to convincingly create a CGI alien for a few shots, but another to do so for an entire film without audiences crying uncanny valley.

Pleakley wearing a wig in 'Lilo and Stitch'
Credit: Disney

To rob Pleakley of his more fabulous attire, however, is another issue.

As one X, formerly known as Twitter, user put it: “Look what they’ve done to our diva.”

A second agreed: “They gave Pleakley normal human disguises instead of their girly dress ups? CHOPP.” Another wrote, “I just realized that they had Pleakley disguised as a human man when in the movie and the series he’d always have cute femme disguises. It’s official this remake sucks.”

i was never gonna watch this anyways but omfg they’re really unwoking lilo & stitch

“Omfg they’re really ‘unwoking’ Lilo & Stitch,” one user so aptly claimed.

The Anti-Woke Disney Movement

We hate to use the word “woke” in any kind of serious conversation, but it’s come up a lot in recent years when it comes to Disney. There are some who believe that the studio has leaned too far into woke ideology in its films lately, such as by casting princesses of color and incorporating more feminist storylines into its live-action adaptations.

A scene from Win or Lose a Pixar series
Credit: Pixar

Lately, however, it seems like Disney is backpedalling on its efforts at driving diversity and inclusivity. The Disney+ series Win or Lose, for example, cut a storyline focusing on a transgender character.

Some have taken this latest move in Lilo & Stitch as proof that Disney isn’t done yet.

“Disney can and will cater to the Right if they think it’ll help the bottom line,” said one X user.

“It looks pretty good actually” bla bla bla

The removal of *these* two aspects of Lilo and Stitch is showing us (like we all knew) that Disney can and will cater to the Right if they think it’ll help the bottom line, and it still won’t matter 1/4

Whether the decision is that deep or not, plenty of fans have noted that this change is just one way that the live-action adaptation lacks the charm of the original Lilo & Stitch. “The original made it a lot funnier,” one user wrote.

Of course, we’ve only seen two minutes of footage so far. There’s still a chance Pleakley does bring his signature flair to the 2025 version, but Disney simply chose not to include it in the trailer. If he doesn’t, though, one thing is clear — fans won’t be happy.

What do you think of Disney’s decision to not have Pleakley wear women’s clothing?

The post Fans Riot as Disney Decides to “Unwoke” ‘Lilo & Stitch’ appeared first on Inside the Magic.

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