Hannah Waddingham, who is best known for her part as Rebecca Welton on the Ted Lasso series, takes over the role of the Galactic Federation's Grand Councilwoman in Disney's live-action adaptation of Lilo and Stitch. Zoe Caldwell originally voiced the character in the animated 2002 movie, leaving it vacant upon her passing in 2020.
Waddingham gave a stellar performance in the flick despite being onscreen for a brief amount of time. The Grand Councilwoman shows up in a handful of scenes at best when she could've been in more.
According to Director Dean Fleischer Camp, Waddingham recorded additional lines while in character, some of which included some humorous content. Her dialogue, however, doesn't sound like it would be Disney-approved.
Apparently, Waddingham let her character mask "slip" while recording lines, leading to content that may be misconstrued as unbecoming of a Disney movie. Keep in mind, given the studio's willingness to permit so many dirty jokes to air in Deadpool and Wolverine, censorship guidelines aren't as strict as they used to be. Lilo and Stitch and Deadpool and Wolverine are like night and day when it comes to comparisons, although the latter has opened the door for NSFW content in Disney's wheelhouse. It won't necessarily show up in theatrical cuts, as evidenced by Lilo and Stitch, but the extras section on Disney Plus is a feasible alternative.
Plus, blooper reels are all the rage nowadays. YouTube has watched—no pun intended—an influx of viewers roll in simply from the interest in blooper-related content. Whether from a popular television series, such as The Office, or a recent box office blockbuster, like Sonic The Hedgehog 3, extras on the video-based application are frequently searched. All that reflects a growing demand for such content.
As far as Disney's Lilo and Stitch goes, fans probably hope to see Waddingham bring her unique approach to a family-friendly character. One can only imagine the types of jokes the Ted Lasso actress would tell given an open forum. They were obviously in good taste since Waddingham's humor is always on the level. It's worth noting that she has a sarcastic edge—a bit of wit to her humor—and Disney executives probably don't appreciate having to vet so many crass jokes.
Audiences may recall that Ryan Reynolds' character in Deadpool and Wolverine referenced the entertainment conglomerate during a joke about "pegging." And even though it was elegantly crafted, Disney more than likely wasn't thrilled with their brand being associated with adult humor.
Regardless, the time is nigh. Since Disney has already let the proverbial noose loosen around its properties' necks, it's apropos the studio begin releasing additional content—content that would've gone in the archives or trash bin. The archives come to mind because of how often unused content winds up online. Coincidentally, a controversial scene from 2002's Lilo and Stitch landed on the web years after the movie's debut. Its presence suggests Disney's archives may contain more treasures, including the blooper reel of Waddingham as the Grand Councilwoman.
Disney's Lilo and Stitch is currently in theaters.