It looks as if Disney got word of the backlash that came with its decision to cast Kahiau Machado in the upcoming “Lilo & Stitch” live-action film because, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor has been replaced. Earlier this week, Twitter sounded off on the casting of Machado, particularly after discovering he had used a number of racial slurs in his social media posts. Per the news publication, Disney found out about his public use of the N-word and decided to drop him, having since replaced him with a new actor — Kaipot Dudoit.
And apparently, it wasn’t a one-time thing either; Machado had used racial slurs at least twice in the posts found by social media users, prompting executives to give him the boot. People were also able to find his Spotify playlists, with one of them being named “n**** noise” while referring to a Facebook friend as Kapono “Sandy N****” Lizama.
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Machado had already made headlines prior to his firing over claims he wasn’t “ethnic” enough for the role of David in the live-action remake. Sydney Agudong, who is playing Lilo’s sister, Nani, was also met with heavy criticism for the same reason from people who felt she, too, was too “light-skinned” to be playing a Hawaiian-based character. Tia Carrere, who played Nani in the 2002 animated film is also said to be returning, but this time she’ll play a new character, Mrs. Kekoa.
It’s too early to say how the live-action Lilo Stitch will compare to the original until we see it, but there are certainly some differences we can expect. As mentioned, the film will include both live-action and CG elements, allowing for a more realistic portrayal of the alien characters. Additionally, there may be changes to the story or characters in order to update it for a modern audience.
One potential change that has been discussed is the film’s villain. In the original film, the villain was an alien council who wanted to capture Stitch. However, in the live-action remake, it’s possible that the villain could be a human character, in order to add a more relatable element to the story.
The challenges of adapting Lilo Stitch to live-action are particularly significant. The original film features a colorful cast of characters, including the titular Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, an alien experiment that becomes her friend. The film’s setting, music, and themes are all integral to its success, making it a difficult story to translate to live-action.
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One of the biggest challenges will be creating believable and compelling versions of Lilo and Stitch. Lilo is a unique character who doesn’t fit into typical Disney princess molds, and Stitch is an alien creature who doesn’t speak in a traditional sense. Finding actors who can capture the essence of these characters while also bringing their own spin to the roles will be crucial.
Another challenge will be recreating the film’s Hawaiian setting and incorporating its unique cultural elements. The original film is beloved for its portrayal of Hawaiian culture, and it will be important for the live-action remake to do the same. However, there’s a risk of cultural appropriation or misrepresentation if not handled carefully.