Disney has tapped Dean Fleischer-Camp to direct the upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch remake. Fleisher-Camp is currently coming off his latest A24 project, the well-received Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Meanwhile, Jon M. Chu was initially attached to direct Lilo & Stitch for Disney, but he departed earlier this year. Chris Kekaniokalani Bright is in negotiations to write the Lilo & Stitch script, with Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich, and Ryan Halprin set to produce. Other than that, little is known about the Lilo & Stitch remake.
The original Lilo & Stitch animated feature became an instant cult classic following its release in 2002, and remains beloved by many Disney fans today. Following the story of Lilo and her alien sidekick, Stitch, the movie explores the pair’s unlikely friendship as they navigate the hardships of family, belonging, and the lurking dangers of an extraterrestrial threat. Lilo & Stitch was extended into a franchise with 2003’s Lilo & Stitch: The Series, and was followed by multiple sequel films in the following years. In 2018, Disney announced that the live-action adaptation of the story was in the works, though cast members or story details have yet to be confirmed.
As reported by Deadline, Fleischer-Camp is set to direct the upcoming live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch for Disney. The news comes amid the critical success of his new animated film, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, which is currently on-track to earn $1 million at the box office. As of now, a release date for Lilo & Stitch remains unknown. The film will mark Fleischer-Camp’s first live-action film at a major studio.
Lilo & Stitch is just one of many Disney classics in line to receive the live-action treatment, with stories like The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and Hercules currently in development. Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, The Little Mermaid wrapped principal photography in summer 2021 and is slated to arrive in theaters on May 26, 2023. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves has also wrapped filming, with its leading actress, Rachel Zegler, having recently taken to social media to share the news. Unlike these upcoming projects, however, Lilo & Stitch probably won’t be heading to screens anytime soon. The movie is currently slated to skip theaters in lieu of heading straight to Disney+, and with no cast members announced, it likely won’t begin filming for some time.
It’ll be interesting to see if Fleischer-Camp can bring a new perspective to the beloved Disney classic while still being able to capture the sense of nostalgia many have for the original film. Another big question is whether or not the original voice actors will, in some capacity, be involved in the live-action remake; this is something that Nani voice actress, Tia Carrere, weighed in on during a recent interview. Regardless, if the director can manage to make his take on Lilo & Stitch as refreshingly childish and lighthearted as Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, it’ll surely be a heartfelt trip down Disney memory lane.
