Disney showcased a first look at its live-action adaptation of the beloved animated hit 'Lilo and Stitch' at D23, revealing that the film will premiere in summer 2025.
- August 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - At D23, Disney unveiled the mischievous alien Sitch in its live-action remake of the animated hit Lilo & Stitch. Sitch, generated by CGI, burst through the screen to announce the film's summer 2025 release. An exact date was not disclosed although the studio currently has two summer theatrical dates on hold: May 23 and August 8.
Newcomer Maia Kealoha will portray Lilo in the live-action version of the 2002 animated pic, originally intended for Disney+ but now set for a theatrical release. Dean Fleischer Camp ("Marcel the Shell with Shoes On") directs the film, which also stars Zach Galifianakis as Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the mad scientist creator of Stitch, and Billy Magnussen as Agent Pleakley, an agent tasked with pursuing Dr. Jumba.
The film retains the original story of Lilo, a lonely girl who adopts Stitch, an alien engineered for destruction, leading to their heartwarming bond. Chris Kekaniokalani Bright penned the new screenplay, based on an earlier draft by Mike Van Waes. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce for Rideback, with Ryan Halprin serving as executive producer.
The live-action adaptation joins a long legacy of "Lilo & Stitch" spinoffs, including movies, a TV show, and several sequels. The original 2002 animated film, written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, garnered critical acclaim for its endearing characters and emotional themes of family and acceptance.
