The Lilo & Stitch live-action remake is a reinterpretation of Disney’s animated classic of the same name, and the project continues to provide updates on the movie’s casting, plot, and more. Blending CGI with live-action footage, Disney has produced many successful live-action remakes, such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book, and it seems likely the studio will eventually get through all of its animated features. The Lilo & Stitch redo was announced in 2018, but its development has seen some ups and downs over the years in terms of the talent involved.
One of the few Disney animated films not based on preexisting material, the original Lilo & Stitch was released in 2002 and revolves around the friendship between a young Hawaiian girl and the destructive extraterrestrial creature she adopts. The success of the first Lilo & Stitch spawned three direct-to-video sequels and three TV series, including an anime, plus a Lilo & Stitch manga set in feudal Japan. The traditional 2D animation style of the original offers a vibrant viewing experience, complete with visually-rich depictions of Hawaii. The live-action Lilo & Stitch remake will bring back the beauty of that setting as well as Lilo and Stitch’s iconic friendship and the franchise’s brand of family-friendly humor.
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Latest News
The latest news on the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake is not the kind of update that fans were hoping for. The Lilo & Stitch remake is among the several big studio projects that have been affected by the Screen Actors Guild strike (via THR). Though the movie was set for production in Hawaii, filming has been halted for the time being. Other notable movies delayed by the Hollywood actor’s strike so far include Deadpool 3, Gladiator 2, and fellow Hawaii-set Disney live-action remake, Moana. While Lilo & Stitch remake is among the first movies affected, there will be plenty to follow, and the impact and delays the SAG-AFTRA strike is likely to cause can’t be overstated.
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Confirmed
The earliest word of a Lilo & Stitch live-action remake can be traced back to October 2018. Like the 2019 remake of Lady and the Tramp and 2023’s Peter Pan & Wendy, the new Lilo & Stitch movie is eyeing a direct release to Disney’s streaming platform Disney Plus instead of a wider theatrical release. The Lilo & Stitch remake is being directed by Marcell the Shell with Shoes On helmer Dean Fleischer Camp with Chris Kekaniokalani and Mike Van Waes writing the screenplay.
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Release Date
The Lilo & Stitch live-action remake release date has not yet been confirmed. However, going by the timing of Disney’s previous live-action remakes, this project should take two years to release from the time of its filming. According to The DisInsider, production began in March 2023 under the working title “Bad Dog” — an obvious reference to how Lilo refers to Stitch. Therefore, the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake is likely aiming to release sometime in 2025. However, with production halting due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, it remains to be seen how much that will alter release plans.
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Cast
The first official casting announcement on the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake came in February 2023 with Zach Galifianakis set to play Pleakley. By the next month, newcomer Maia Kealoha was cast as Lilo Pelekai. While Kealoha has not had prior acting experience, her Instagram account shows that she has appeared in numerous Little Miss Kona Koffee beauty pageants.
For the role of Lilo’s sister, Nani, the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie has cast Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, who previously appeared in a few short films and a 2023 episode of NCIS. Nani’s boyfriend, David, is played by Kahiau Machado, another newcomer. As for the titular blue alien, Chris Sanders returns to voice the remake’s version of Stitch. He had first voiced Stitch in the 2002 animated original that he also co-wrote and directed with Dean DeBlois.
In April 2023, it was confirmed that No Time to Die and Game Night‘s Billy Magnussen — who also made a brief appearance in the Aladdin remake — has been cast in a mystery role in Lilo & Stitch. Days later, Emmy-winning actor Courtney B. Vance (American Crime Story, Lovecraft Country) was cast in the part of social worker Cobra Bubbles (via Deadline).
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Story Details
Like the original Lilo & Stitch, the remake will focus on the alien Stitch’s initial plans to cause havoc as he is pursued by government agents and other extraterrestrial creatures. But Stitch acquires a more friendly nature and finds a new purpose in life when he befriends Lilo, who is ready to protect him at all costs. It is possible that the remake will incorporate additional new plot points from the direct-to-DVD movies and shows, much like how Jon Favreau also relied on The Lion King‘s Broadway musical for his 2019 adaptation of the 1994 animated film.
Most of the original characters are bound to show up, but even some new ones from the rest of the Lilo & Stitch lore can be introduced. For instance, fans have often wondered about Lilo and Nani’s parents, who never appear in the animated movies. Some even point to the conspiracy theory that Lilo’s parents were CIA agents. It is possible that the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake finally introduces them along with reinterpreting some quintessential franchise characters. For instance, Stitch! The Movie introduced Stitch’s cousin, Experiment 221, a.k.a. Sparky. By teasing characters like Sparky in the remake, the new version of the Lilo & Stitch story can explore more narrative threads.
