Thescreescore – Director Dean Fleischer Camp is wading into the swirling controversy surrounding the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake’s ending. The film, starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo and featuring Chris Sanders’ voice work as Stitch, has faced significant backlash over several creative choices, including the redesign of Pleakley and Jumba and the absence of Gantu as the primary antagonist. However, the most contentious aspect remains the altered conclusion, where Nani relinquishes guardianship of Lilo to her neighbor.
Speaking to Variety, Camp addressed the criticism head-on, suggesting that some detractors haven’t actually seen the film. "I’ve had some time to think about this," he stated. "I do think that a fair amount of the people who are dunking on that premise haven’t actually seen the movie; they get the story beats wrong. But when you see it, it doesn’t feel that way at all, and you see the intent of the actual filmmaking."
Camp then revealed the impetus for the change: a collaborative decision rooted in authentic Hawaiian cultural values. Chris Sanders, himself Hawaiian, questioned the original ending’s portrayal of the sisters’ isolation, arguing that in Hawaiian culture, the community would rally around them. This insight led to the creation of Tutu, a new character who adopts Lilo, showcasing the concept of hanai, a form of informal adoption.
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"We wanted to expand the meaning of ohana and ground it in traditional Hawaiian values," Camp explained. "Chris made a really important observation…He said, ‘Neighbors, church groups, aunties and uncles, all these people would step in. That’s just the Hawaii I know and grew up in.’ That led to Tutu, and the hanai tradition. It’s a uniquely Hawaiian answer to who shows up when things fall apart."
Camp acknowledged the impossibility of pleasing everyone with a remake, especially one as beloved as Lilo & Stitch. "We didn’t want to just restage the beats of the original," he said. "We wanted to tell a story that’s honest about losing everything and still finding a way forward. People do get left behind, and it’s incumbent upon the community to make sure they aren’t forgotten."
Despite the divided opinions, the live-action Lilo & Stitch is proving a box office success, potentially becoming the first 2025 Hollywood film to surpass $1 billion. The positive reception (93% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, an A from CinemaScore) suggests that while the ending remains divisive, the overall film has resonated with audiences. The controversy, however, highlights the intense passion surrounding the original and the inherent challenges of adapting beloved classics. The debate, ultimately, underscores the enduring power of ohana – whether interpreted traditionally or through a modern lens. The success also hints at the strong possibility of a sequel.
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