Billy Magnussen is full of excitement as he talks about his role as Lieutenant Pleakley in the long-awaited live-action version of Lilo & Stitch
While the new live-action version of Lilo and Stitch As development progresses, Billy Magnussen shares fascinating details about his involvement as the eccentric alien Pleakley. This adaptation, full of anticipation and nostalgia, promises to reinvent the elements that made the original 2002 film a beloved classic. The original film told the endearing story of Lilo, a Hawaiian girl who adopts a “dog” who turns out to be an alien experiment named Stitch. With its message that “Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten,” the film has garnered fans around the world, touching hearts with its themes of family, friendship, and acceptance.
Transform Pleakley
Billy Magnussen, who will play Pleakley, recently spoke with Collider’s Steve Weintraub about his role and other current projects such as Coup d’état!. With obvious emotion, Magnussen revealed how he feels about bringing Pleakley to life: “I’m not crazy, I’m excited. Playing Pleakley and being able to be completely outlandish is an incredible gift. I have no words to describe it. I just shot some ADR for the film and all I can say is ‘it’s going to be good.’ Really good.”
In the adaptation, Pleakley is an alien sent to Earth to capture Stitch. Throughout the film, he marvels at the peculiarities of our planet. “100%! I’m an alien who loves Earth and is excited about everything it has to offer, even the darkest things,” Magnussen said. He also talked about how he enjoyed interacting on set, especially with Maia Kealoha, the young actress who plays Lilo. “If I can make the girl laugh, then I know I’m doing it right,” he added, reflecting the joy he finds in his role.
A tribute and something new
Magnussen believes that while the film pays homage to the themes of family and belonging that made the original special, it also has its own identity. “I hope people embrace it as a different story. Sometimes with these live-action films, people cling to the animated version and don’t see that they’re not competing,” he explained.
Magnussen touched on the film’s central theme: finding family and community. “This adaptation is about finding friends and family, being an outsider and finding your community and your family. I hope people don’t fight that and embrace it,” the actor said.
A challenge of performance and technology
The transformation of Plectrum in the new version of Lilo and Stitch It’s not just an acting challenge for Billy Magnussenbut also a technological milestone. The creation of a alien convincing in a live-action environment requires progress visual effects and animation, a task that Disney has approached with the same commitment that characterized previous productions such as Beauty and the Beast. This new incarnation relies on motion capture and CGI technologies to bring Pleakley to life, promising a visually stunning experience that respects the essence of the original character.
Additionally, Pleakley’s evolution offers a unique opportunity to explore modern themes such as acceptance and diversity through a fresh and timely lens. Integrating humor And humanity By representing him, Magnussen hopes that this Pleakley will resonate fans today, as much as the animated version did with audiences at the turn of the millennium. With these innovations, Disney seeks not only to revive a classic, but also to creatively adapt it to the sensibilities of contemporary audiences.
Fans looking to revisit the original story before the live-action version hits theaters next summer can watch Lilo and Stitch on Disney+. With everything going on, it looks like the new film promises to be not only an exciting revisit of beloved characters, but also a deep exploration of themes that will resonate with audiences of all ages.