Lilo & Stitch live-action sequel is bringing back an original writer to pen the script

A still from Lilo & Stitch | Image via Disney YouTube
A still from Lilo & Stitch | Image via @Disney/YouTube

The Lilo & Stitch live-action adaptation was released on May 23, 2025, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It was a remake of Disney's 2002 namesake animated film. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film was written by Mike Van Waes and Chris Kekaniokalani Bright. Here is the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:

"The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family."

The film met with positive reviews and grossed $1.009 billion at the box office. Recently, it was revealed that a sequel is currently in work.


Lilo & Stitch sequel to feature a writer from the original film

The live-action Lilo & Stitch is getting a sequel. As per Deadline, Chris Sanders will be writing the sequel. Sanders co-wrote and co-directed the original film with Dean DeBlois. He also provided the voice of Stitch in both the original and the live-action version.

The franchise's consumer products minted $2.5 billion, and it even crossed $1 billion mark in 2024. The films have a watch time of 546 million hours on Disney+, while the original animated film has 280 million hours of views.

The live-action Lilo & Stitch is produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich. It had its world premiere at Los Angeles' El Capitan Theatre on May 17, 2025.

Here is the list of its cast members:

  • Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai
  • Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch
  • Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani Pelekai
  • Zach Galifianakis as Dr. Jumba Jookiba's voice
  • Billy Magnussen as the voice of Agent Wendell Pleakley
  • Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles
  • Amy Hill as Tūtū
  • Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa
  • Kaipo Dudoit as David Kawena
  • Hannah Waddingham as Grand Councilwoman's voice
  • Jason Scott Lee as lū'au's manager
  • Emery Hookano-Briel as Mertle Edmonds
  • David Hekili Kenui Bell as the Big Hawaiian Dude

It revolves around a Hawaiian girl who is trying to cope with a ruptured family. She befriends a blue colored alien, which becomes the crux of the entire plot. The original 2002 film was traditionally animated and marked the directorial debut of Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders. Made on a budget of $80 million, the film grossed $273.1 million. It received a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars and was followed by three sequels that were direct-to-video.

Are you excited about the sequel?


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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala