Last night Disney dropped the first trailer for the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch as a current trend of live-action remakes is slowly hotting up!
Based on the animated Disney classic released in 2002 the film focuses on Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned Hawaiian girl who is raised by her older sister Nani in the wake of their parents’ deaths.
To help heal, Lilo adopts an alien creature (of sorts) whom she calls Stitch. The pair become close and the entire film focuses on their relationship and madcap adventures.
Originally set for a 2024 release this live-action remake is set for a May 23, 2025 release brought to us by director Dean Fleischer Camp based on a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright.
Stitch will be voiced by none other than Chris Sanders who wrote and directed the original 2002 animated film with Dean DeBlois.
Chris Sanders seems to be on a roll with these live-action remakes as we only reported a few days ago about the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake which Chris had a hand in.
Chris along with Dean DeBlois once again directed and wrote How To Train Your Dragon and having both of their films given the live-action treatment must be a really great achievement for them.
Whilst the trailer doesn’t give too much away we do get our first look at Stitch and whilst the animation doesn’t seem as silky smooth as the How To Train Your Dragon trailer there’s quite the metaphor here as Stitch destroys a sandcastle resembling the Disney castle.
A wink and nod to Disney destroying it’s animation department in favour of these live-action remakes? Of course not, but you know full well that fans will make these comparisons given the nature of just how many live-action remakes seem to be happening right now with Disney property.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Sanders said the script is “really cool”
I continue to do his voice for different things. Every once in a while, I’ll go into a booth and do some recordings, and it’s always nice to hear about how he’s still out there, and people still know who he is.
I have been able to see a few things [of the new film], and I can’t tell you what I’ve seen. But they allowed me to see some peeks of what they wrote, too, and it’s really cool.
Zack Galifianakis, Hannah Waddingham and Billy Magnussen will also be joining the cast along with Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Kaipo Dudoit and Courtney B. Vance.
Tia Carrere, who voiced Lilo’s sister Nani in the original animated film will also appear in the movie as Mrs Kekoa with Amy Hill returning as new character Tūtū, Lilo and Nani’s neighbour.
Lilo & Stitch‘s live-action remake is set to be released in cinemas on May 23, 2025.
