Lilo & Sтιтch looks like it could be Disney’s best live-action remake to date, and based on the director’s previous masterpiece, it’s no surprise that it’s shaping up to be so great. Over the past decade, the Mouse House has been relentlessly turning all its animated classics into live-action movies. Based on Lilo & Sтιтch’s recently released trailer, it’s looking like it could surpᴀss Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book to become the studio’s greatest live-action redo yet.

It recaptures Lilo and Sтιтch’s dynamic perfectly, all the actors are well-suited to their roles (especially Maia Kealoha, who’s doing a great job as Lilo), and it brings the franchise’s sci-fi world to life with vibrant colors and dazzling visual effects. There are a couple of changes to the original that could be underwhelming, like making Lilo less unhinged and giving Pleakley a more realistic disguise. But for the most part, it looks like a satisfying reimagining — and that can be attributed to its director.

Lilo & Sтιтch’s Live-Action Remake Is From The Director Of Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

It’s Dean Fleischer Camp’s Follow-Up To His Oscar-Nominated Gem

When it comes to these live-action remakes of animated hits, Disney either hires journeyman directors to do their bidding, like Bill Condon and Marc Forster, or brings in visionary directors like David Lowery and Barry Jenkins, but hobbles their vision with studio interference. But Lilo & Sтιтch seems to be the exception. Disney has hired Dean Fleischer Camp, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and they seem to have actually given him the creative leeway to make a great movie.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a mockumentary about a divorced documentarian who finds an anthropomorphic seashell living in his Airbnb property. Jenny Slate voices Marcel, who reaches out to fans online in the hope of reuniting with his long-lost family. It’s a really beautiful story anchored by an absurdly lovable character. It was one of the best movies of 2021 and scored a much-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature (although it lost to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio).

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On Shows Why Dean Fleischer Camp Was A Great Pick For Lilo & Sтιтch

It Has All The Qualities That Make Lilo & Sтιтch So Wonderful

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On shows why Fleischer Camp is such a great choice to direct the remake of Lilo & Sтιтch, and not just because it proves he can deftly balance a live-action/animated hybrid, swapping out a stop-motion character for a CG one. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is all about finding family, and it has warm humor and a huge heart. In other words, it has everything you need for Lilo & Sтιтch.