The word “Ohana” means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten! Disney premiered the live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch” at D23 on Friday, starring Maya Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai.
The film is scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2025 only. Disney's release calendar shows an open release date of May 23, though no date has been set at D23.
The remake follows the original 2002 film written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. The animated film follows 6-year-old Lilo and her older sister Nanny, who live in Hawaii and adopt a blue alien named Stitch. In this live-action adaptation, Stitch will be brought to life using CGI.
Lilo & Stitch has had several spin-off series, including Stitch! The Movie, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Malfunction, and Leroy & Stitch. A spin-off television series, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, aired on Disney Channel and ABC Kids from 2003 to 2006.
Sidney Agudong stars as Nanny in the film adaptation, with Sanders reprising his voice role as Stitch. Newcomer Zach Galifianakis stars as Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the mad scientist who created Stitch. Billy Magnussen stars as Agent Bleakley, a United Galactic Federation agent sent to find Dr. Jumba. Courtney B. Vance stars as a social worker who looks after Lilo. Tia Carrere, who voiced Nanny in the original film, will play Ms. Kekoa. Ms. Hasagawa’s voice actress, Amy Hale, joins the cast as Toto, alongside Jason Scott Lee, who played David Kawina in the animated film.
The film was directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, director of the Academy Award-nominated Marcel the Shell with Shoes, and the screenplay was written by Chris Kekanyokalani Bright. The film was produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback, while Ryan Halperin, Tom C. Betzman and Louie Provo served as executive producers.
