Disney hasn’t always had smooth sailing with its live-action remakes, Snow White being a prime example of a project that made waves for all the wrong reasons. But with Lilo & Stitch opening this weekend and tracking for a strong debut, the House of Mouse is already looking at turning this one into a full-blown franchise.
In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman gave fans a not-so-subtle hint that a sequel is already in the early stages of conversation.
He said: “It feels like it’s going to work very well, and it’s the kind of property that lends itself to more.”
He goes on to say that the demand for Stitch-themed merchandise is absolutely exploding ahead of the film’s release. “We’ve seen the thing explode from a Disney+ and consumer-products perspective,”
For Disney, that’s basically the corporate equivalent of a green light and confetti cannon.
While many people think of Lilo & Stitch as a standalone 2002 classic, the truth is this franchise has been quietly thriving for decades. Beyond the original movie, there are two direct-to-video sequels, a made-for-TV sequel, three animated series, two TV specials, short films. Then you got the video games and Disney theme parks.
This live-action version, directed by Marcel the Shell with Shoes On filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, is even expected to outpace Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning over Memorial Day weekend.
Looking ahead, Disney’s live-action Moana is locked in for July 2026, and a handful of other animated-to-live-action projects like Hercules, Bambi, Tangled, and The Aristocats are simmering in development.
But if Lilo & Stitch hits the way Disney hopes it will, it could be the one that gives new momentum to the remake machine.
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