The Lilo & Sтιтch live-action remake is a reinterpretation of Disney’s animated classic of the same name, and the project continues to provide updates on the movie’s casting, plot, and more. Blending CGI with live-action footage, Disney has produced many successful live-action remakes, such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Cinderella​​​​​​, and The Jungle Book, and it seems likely the studio will eventually get through all of its animated features.

One of the few Disney animated films not based on preexisting material, the original Lilo & Sтιтch was released in 2002 and revolves around the friendship between a young Hawaiian girl and the destructive extraterrestrial creature she adopts. The success of the first Lilo & Sтιтch spawned three direct-to-video sequels and three TV series, including an anime, plus a Lilo & Sтιтch manga set in feudal Japan. The live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake will bring back the beauty of its setting as well as Lilo and Sтιтch’s iconic friendship and the franchise’s brand of family-friendly humor.

Lilo & Sтιтch Live-Action Remake Latest News

The Full Trailer Finally Arrives

A few months after Sтιтch appeared at the 2025 Super Bowl, the latest news arrives in the form of a full trailer for Lilo & Sтιтch. The trailer opens with the familiar inciting incident in which Sтιтch escapes intergalactic custody and heads to Earth. Once there, he is adopted by young Lilo and her sister Nani, and immediately starts to cause trouble. Even as the burgeoning family begins to take shape, agents Jumba Jookiba and Pleakley arrive on Earth to catch him, and Agent Cobra Bubbles is also H๏τ on Sтιтch’s trail.

Lilo & Sтιтch Live-Action Remake Release Date

The Remake Will Premiere In 2025

The trajectory of the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake has changed dramatically in recent years, but Disney has finally added it to the official release schedule. What was once supposed to release on Disney+ in 2024, the film is now taking an important place in Disney’s 2025 summer slate and will premiere on May 23, 2025. The movie is a theatrical release, though it will certainly end up on Disney+ at some point after it leaves theaters.

Lilo & Sтιтch Live-Action Remake Cast

Who Plays Who In The Live-Action Remake?

The cast of the Lilo & Sтιтch live-action movie is not without its controversies, and though it is taking shape, some changes have been made. Kahiau Machado was originally cast in the role of David Kawena but was recast after it was revealed he had previously used a racial slur. Kaipo Dudoit has since been tapped to play the role. The casting of Sydney Agudong as Nani Pelekai earned the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch backlash when the production was accused of colorism. Nevertheless, Agudong has retained the role as Lilo’s protective older sister.

On the returning front, Chris Sanders will reprise his role from the 2002 animated film, and he will voice the lovable blue alien, Sтιтch. In perhaps the movie’s most important role, Maia Kealoha has been cast as Lilo Pelekai, the rambunctious six-year-old who adopts Sтιтch. Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lᴀsso) will also appear in the film as the Grand Councilwoman.

The entire known Lilo & Sтιтch live-action cast includes:

Actor	Live-Action Lilo & Sтιтch Role
Maia Kealoha	Lilo Pelekai
Sydney Agudong	Nani Pelekai
Kaipo Dudoit	David Kawena
Chris Sanders	Sтιтch
Zach Galifianakis	Dr. Jumba Jookiba
Billy Magnussen	Agent Pleakley
Tia Carrere	Mrs. Kekoa
Courtney B. Vance	Cobra Bubbles
Hannah Waddingham	Grand Councilwoman
Amy Hill	Tūtū
Jason Scott Lee	Luau Manager

Lilo & Sтιтch Live-Action Remake Story Details

What Will Happen In The Remake?

Like the original Lilo & Sтιтch, the remake will focus on the alien Sтιтch’s initial plans to cause havoc as he is pursued by government agents and other extraterrestrial creatures. But Sтιтch acquires a more friendly nature and finds a new purpose in life when he befriends Lilo. Based on the full trailer that arrived in March 2025, it seems as if the live-action remake is more or less the same story as the animated film. Though some specifics are tweaked, it’s the same structure.

Lilo & Sтιтch Live-Action Remake Trailer

Watch The Full Trailers Below

In anticipation of the movie’s May 2025 release, Disney revealed the first teaser for Lilo & Sтιтch in November 2024. The teaser opens with a grand sH๏τ of Hawaii as seen from the ocean, before jump cutting to a sandy beach and sandcastle that looks a lot like Disney’s signature castle logo. Suddenly, Sтιтch appears and proceeds to stomp down the sandcastle while happily grunting and laughing.

After months of teases, Disney finally released a full-trailer for Lilo & Sтιтch in March 2025. The two-minute trailer opens with the inciting incident where Sтιтch escapes from custody and heads for Earth. Once there, he is adopted by Lilo and Nani, though the latter is unhappy with all the chaos that Sтιтch causes. As Nani, Lilo, and Sтιтch slowly become a family unit, intergalactic agents Jumba Jakooba and Pleakley arrive to capture Sтιтch, and federal Agent Cobra Bubbles is stalking Experiment 626 as well.