After several spin-off films and series, 2002 film Lilo & Stitch is getting the live-action treatment – and now we have an official release date for the upcoming Disney movie.
Back in March, Disney unveiled a trailer for the film, and fans were quick to praise newcomer Maia Kealoha’s casting as Lilo, as well as the look of Stitch in the movie.
There was some backlash from fans over the new iterations of Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) and Dr. Jumba Jookie ( Zach Galifianakis).
While the duo only ever appeared as aliens in the 2002 animated film, with a lot of the humour revolving around their poor human disguises, in the new film the pair use technology to make them appear human.
Fans were also quick to note that, while Pleakley is also a drag icon in the 2002 movie, the new film appears to erase the character's love of drag entirely.
Speaking with SFX Magazine, director Dean Fleischer Camp recently addressed the controversial changes to the characters, insisting the new movie would remain faithful to the original film’s tone.
He said: "We're doing something a little different with Jumba and Pleakley... It's my favourite kind of story. The audience is going to find themselves falling into a trapdoor of emotion at some point."
Wondering who else is set to star and when the film is expected to land? Read on for everything you need to know.
The Lilo and Stitch live action remake is set to release in cinemas on 21st May, 2025, in the UK.
A Disney Plus release date is yet to be announced.
Lilo & Stitch cast
Relative newcomer Maia Kealoha is set to lead the cast of the remake in the role of Lilo. Prior to landing the huge role, Maia only had one small role in Moana 2.
Speaking about the moment she found out she had been cast, she previously said: "When I came home [and they said] 'Maia would you like to be our Lilo?' I was speechless and crying."
Meanwhile, Chris Sanders is set to reprise his role as Stitch in the new live-action movie after voicing the beloved character in the 2022 animated film, while Sydney Agudong (On My Block) will play Lilo’s older sister, Nani (who was originally voiced by Tia Carrere in the 2002 movie).
As detailed above, Billy Magnussen (Into the Woods) is set to play Agent Pleakley, a Plorgonarian agent of the United Galactic Federation who acts as the organisation's expert on Earth (and who was originally voiced by Kevin McDonald), while Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) is set to star in the role of Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the Kweltikwan mad scientist who created Stitch.
While in the original Jumba and Pleakely were depicted as aliens, for the remake the actors will appear in human form.
Other cast members include Amy Hill (UnREAL), who voiced the fruit stand owner Lynne Hasagawa in the 2002 animated film and Disney channel series, but will return in a different role. This time Hill is set to play a new character Tūtū, the longtime neighbor of Lilo and Nani, and the grandmother of David.
Meanwhile, Kaipo Dudoit (Magnum P.I.) will play Nani’s boyfriend, David – a character who was voiced in the animated version by Jason Scott Lee.
Lee is set to appear in the film as a Luau manager. Speaking on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast, Lee previously explained: "I got a little, small [part]. They threw me some bones, and I said, 'Yeah, absolutely! In any capacity."
He continued: "I get to see the kid that's playing my character that I voiced, David. And I'll get to see Lilo and I'll get to see Nani, the new people, the actors that are playing them. So it'll be fun."
Elsewhere, Courtney B. Vance is set to star as Cobra Bubbles, a former CIA agent who is Lilo’s social worker (originally voiced by Ving Rhames), while Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) has been cast in an unspecified role, although she’s rumoured to be playing the Grand Councilwoman – the alien leader who was voiced by Zoe Caldwell in the 2002 animated film.
Tia Carrere (Wayne’s World), who voiced Nani in the 2022 movie, is also returning for the new film, but in a different role – and is set to play social worker Mrs. Kekoa this time around.
We have no other news on casting yet but will keep you posted.
Behind the camera, the movie will be produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who worked on Aladdin and are also attached to the new Inspector Gadget reboot. Mike Van Waes is screenwriter on the project.
Lilo & Stitch plot: What is the movie about?
If you're expecting the same story but in live-action, we'd say where have you been? The live action movies so far have made some changes to the classics. Beauty and the Beast gave us more backstory for Belle and the Beast, Dumbo was a darker take and Mulan's retelling involved new characters, no Mushu (controversially) and more martial arts.
Don't get too anxious though, Lilo & Stitch should stay quite close to the original with Sanders returning. The original story followed a schoolgirl and her sister in Hawaii after their parents die. Lonely, little girl Lilo, tries to find a friend, and comes across Stitch, a result of an alien genetic experiment. The pair become firm friends but find themselves getting into a lot of trouble along the way.
The new synopsis says: "The story is about the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who is engineered to be a force of destruction."
Sanders did raise concerns following the announcement, explaining animation allowed for Stitch to be an alien "yet still cute", whereas CGI might not allow for that. It remains to be seen!
Hopefully the heartwarming story won't be tweaked too much and we'll soon hear the cries of 'Ohana!'.
Is there a trailer for Lilo & Stitch?
Yes, and you can watch it below:
Lilo & Stitch will be released on Wednesday 21st May 2025.
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