Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten! Disney previewed a taste of the live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch” at D23 on Friday, starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai.
The live action movie will be only in theaters in summer 2025. Disney’s release calendar shows an open slot on May 23, though the date wasn’t specified at D23.
The reboot follows the original film, released in 2002 and written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. The animated “Lilo & Stitch” follows a 6-year-old Lilo and her older sister Nani, who live in Hawaii and adopt a blue extraterrestrial creature nicknamed Stitch. In this live-action adaptation, Stitch will be brought to life using CGI.
“Lilo & Stitch” has seen plenty of spinoffs, including “Stitch! The Movie,” “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” and “Leroy & Stitch.” “Lilo & Stitch: The Series,” a TV show spinoff, ran on Disney Channel and ABC Kids from 2003 to 2006.
Sydney Agudong stars as Nani in the live-action adaptation, with Sanders reprising his voice role as Stitch. Newcomer Zach Galifianakis stars as Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the mad scientist creator of Stitch. Billy Magnussen plays Agent Pleakley, an agent of the United Galactic Federation sent to seek out Dr. Jumba. Courtney B. Vance plays a social worker in charge of Lilo. Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original film, will play Mrs. Kekoa. Mrs. Hasagawa’s voice actor, Amy Hill, also joins the cast as Tūtū, alongside Jason Scott Lee, who played David Kawena in the animated film.
Oscar-nominated “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp directed the film, with a screenplay from Chris Kekaniokalani Bright. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback produce, with Ryan Halprin, Tom C. Peitzman and Louie Provost executive producing.
