Disney has finally offered a sneak peek at how Stitch will appear in the live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch, and it’s just a tad unsettling to some.
Just last week, we got a glimpse of another beloved animated favorite that’s making the leap to a live-action adaptation – How to Train Your Dragon. But now, Disney’s stepping into the spotlight instead of DreamWorks. Yesterday, they dropped a 30-second teaser that mostly features Stitch playfully adopting the persona of Godzilla, wreaking havoc on a sandcastle designed to resemble the iconic Disney castle amidst other sandcastles. Aside from a brief scene where a CGI Stitch interacts with some text floating in a void—revealing the release date as May 23, 2025—there’s not much else to see. It’s a pretty basic introduction!
As for what the movie’s about, the official description doesn’t stray far from the original. It outlines the story of a unique friendship between a lonely girl named Lilo and an alien creature resembling a dog, Stitch, who was engineered to cause chaos. Chris Sanders, the original director, returns to give Stitch his voice, while Dean Fleischer Camp, known for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, is stepping in as the new director.
The cast lineup includes Maia Kealoha, who is stepping into the role of Lilo, marking her acting debut. Sydney Agudong from On My Block will play her older sister, Nani. Zach Galifianakis, famous for The Hangover, will lend his voice to Jumba, Billy Magnussen from Game Night takes on the role of Pleakley, and you might recognize Hannah Waddingham from Ted Lasso. Though her character hasn’t been named yet, it seems pretty likely she’ll be the Grand Councilwoman.
With the film set to hit theaters in less than a year, it’s a safe bet that a more detailed trailer will surface soon. Meanwhile, as we wait, Disney is banking on a lucrative holiday season with the release of Moana 2, coming out this week.
