In the world we live in, the portrayal of aliens in drag is seemingly too much for some to handle. Disney's live-action Lilo and Stitch removes a significant component from the storyline, Pleakley, because of the character's wardrobe of choice. Technically, the alien Pleakley is still in the movie, but he's a pale shadow of his former self.
The controversy centers around Pleakley wearing dresses and a wig on the big screen, but what's strange is that it's never been a problem in the past.
Despite brandishing an extensive trunk of feminine disguises in the Lilo and Stitch movies, as well as in the animated series of the same name, Disney altered the character for the live-action film. Instead, Pleakley will only don the United Galactic Federation uniform that he wears before assimilating into human life. Once on Earth, he'll dress in beachwear—the same as his partner, Jumba.
The sudden change is surprising given how essential Pleakley's wardrobe was to the character. He originally disguised himself in feminine clothing to hide in plain sight, but over time, Pleakley became fond of them. Camera shots occasionally caught him twirling, admiring himself in the mirror. Pleakley clearly enjoyed how he looked, which may have influenced Disney's decision to alter the character significantly.
Bear in mind that any real person could see Pleakley was an alien the entire time. A dress and wig can't cover up a huge bulbous eye. However, in the fictional Lilo and Stitch universe, the outfits granted him the benefits of the "Clark Kent Effect." It essentially means a change in clothing can lead to a complete character transformation.
Moreover, Disney replaced another crucial component of the Pleakley character for the live-action movie—the actor who plays him. Instead of Kevin McDonald—the actor who put Pleakley on the map—the studio cast Billy Magnussen as the eponymous alien diplomat. Disney's decision to recast the role seems puzzling, especially when fans would've appreciated hearing the original Pleakley actor reprise his role.
In all likelihood, the reason stemmed from Disney's decision to give the aliens human disguises. Both Pleakley and Jumba will have fullfledged human disguises instead of walking around in baggy clothing to hide their alien traits. Zach Galifianakis and Magnussen play each, respectively.
A logistical explanation for this change presumably has to do with digitally integrating both Jumba and Pleakley in each physical environment. The animation department already faced the challenge of digitally embedding Stitch into real-world scenes. Of course, that still fails to clear up why Disney needed to swap out the actors. Kevin McDonald might've even participated in the film had he been asked; that is assuming he wasn't.
Regardless, the semi-loyal adaptation of Pleakley isn't meeting expectations. More than that, many fans are displeased that Disney once again unilaterally altered a character without even considering the potential backlash. It can be argued, though, that perhaps Disney anticipated the response and is simply proceeding with their original plan.
Lilo and Stitch hits theaters on May 23, 2025.