Movies - Lilo & Stitch: Disney’s Beloved Alien Returns in a Major Summer Event 23 Years in the Making

By Mulder, 01 may 2025

More than two decades after Lilo & Stitch first introduced audiences to the unforgettable duo of a lonely Hawaiian girl and her destructive alien pet, Disney is bringing the story back to the big screen in a bold and ambitious live-action remake. Scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on May 23, 2025, with early fan screenings on May 22, this new adaptation is far more than just another entry in Disney’s extensive remake portfolio. It’s a cultural moment, a comeback story for a mischievous blue alien, and a major theatrical event timed to kick off the summer movie season with nostalgia, spectacle, and heartfelt storytelling. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp—best known for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On—and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, this version of Lilo & Stitch has been in development since 2018 and brings with it years of anticipation, several behind-the-scenes twists, and a marketing rollout as energetic and unpredictable as Stitch himself.

The film is a hybrid of live-action and computer-generated animation, blending practical sets filmed on location in Oahu, Hawaii, with a digitally rendered Stitch who retains all the chaos and charm of his original 2002 design. Chris Sanders, who co-created the original Lilo & Stitch and voiced Stitch himself, returns to the voice booth for this updated version. Sanders’ involvement has been a major point of interest for longtime fans, especially since his participation wasn’t confirmed until late into production. He completed five separate four-hour recording sessions to bring Stitch to life again, despite simultaneously working on his animated film The Wild Robot at DreamWorks. His absence from the set was felt, but his vocal performance cements the connection between the original and the remake, preserving a piece of the original’s heart while inviting a new generation to embrace Stitch’s unique personality.

Production on Lilo & Stitch has been as eventful as the story it tells. After Disney announced the remake in October 2018, the project passed through different creative hands, including a period where Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu was in talks to direct. Ultimately, Dean Fleischer Camp took the reins in 2022. Early filming plans were disrupted by a trailer fire on April 16, 2023, which caused around $200,000 in damage to costumes and delayed the start of principal photography. The incident was classified as first-degree arson by local authorities, although no injuries were reported. Once the smoke cleared, production began in earnest on May 1, only to be paused again in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed in early 2024 and officially wrapped in March, concluding one of Disney’s more logistically complex live-action productions in recent years.

Casting for the film sparked passionate responses across social media, particularly regarding the representation of Native Hawaiian characters. While newcomers like Maia Kealoha—who portrays Lilo—were praised for their authentic presence and emotional range, the casting of Sydney Agudong as Nani faced backlash due to perceived colorism. Agudong, a mixed-race actress from Kauaʻi, faced personal attacks online despite her connection to the island where the story is set. Her casting was defended by many as authentic, while critics raised broader concerns about Hollywood’s handling of Pacific Islander representation. Compounding the controversy, actor Kahiau Machado was initially cast as David Kawena but was quietly replaced by Kaipo Dudoit after social media users discovered Machado had used racial slurs in past posts. Machado issued an apology, but Disney moved swiftly to avoid further fallout. Amidst these challenges, the casting of original voice actors Tia Carrere, Amy Hill, and Jason Scott Lee in new supporting roles was widely praised as a respectful nod to the legacy of the franchise.

One of the most talked-about elements of the film leading up to its release has been the character design for Stitch. Disney offered fans their first glimpse of the live-action Stitch at the 2024 D23 convention, generating a wave of relief and excitement. Avoiding the kind of design missteps that famously plagued early Sonic the Hedgehog marketing, the team behind Lilo & Stitch managed to strike a balance between realistic CGI and the recognizable appeal of the animated original. Stitch’s visual reintroduction continued with a series of clever marketing stunts, including parody posters and trailers that paid homage to other Disney properties. From Stitch destroying a sandcastle shaped like Cinderella Castle to a poster showing him chomping on a Kakamora from Moana, the campaign leaned into crossover comedy. Perhaps the most memorable moment came during Super Bowl LIX, when Stitch “interrupted” the game with a TV spot showing him running loose around Caesars Superdome like a rogue football player. That commercial went viral, pulling in 173.1 million views within 24 hours and becoming Disney’s most-watched digital spot of all time.

The soundtrack for the 2025 remake is another area where Disney has doubled down on both heritage and innovation. Composer Dan Romer was brought on to score the film, and the soundtrack includes a mix of original Hawaiian chants, returning Elvis Presley classics, and a fresh arrangement of “Burning Love” produced by Bruno Mars and performed by his nephews Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm. Returning to the project are the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus and their director, Lynell K. Bright—the mother of screenwriter Chris Bright—who recorded a new original track titled “He Lei Pāpahi No Lilo a me Stitch.” Additionally, Sydney Agudong and Maia Kealoha perform a new rendition of “Aloha ʻOe,” a song with deep emotional roots in Hawaiian culture and the original film. The film’s main single, a reimagined version of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” was released on May 9 and performed live on American Idol on May 12, reinforcing Disney’s commitment to integrating the film into both its cultural and commercial ecosystem.

Originally conceived as a direct-to-Disney+ release, Lilo & Stitch has now been elevated to a full-scale theatrical launch. The shift reflects growing confidence in the film’s potential to perform well at the box office—and so far, the numbers back it up. Fandango reports that Lilo & Stitch currently holds the record for the biggest first-day ticket presales of 2025 for a PG-rated film, outpacing other family-friendly titles like A Minecraft Movie and Paddington in Peru. Disney and partner theaters have embraced the occasion with unique fan experiences, including Dolby Cinema and 4DX preview events and a RealD 3D “Super Ticket Package” timed precisely for 6:26 PM—an homage to Stitch’s experiment number, 626. These little touches reflect Disney’s ability to turn even small references into major fan moments.

From a production that survived fire, backlash, and a labor strike to a marketing campaign that turned nostalgia into virality, Lilo & Stitch (2025) is more than a remake—it’s a cinematic event layered with history, culture, and fan-driven momentum. As audiences prepare to return to the beaches of Kauaʻi this May, the film invites a new generation to experience the bond between an alien who was built for destruction and a girl who taught him to love. With strong box office tracking, emotional resonance, and a creative team that spans both new and original voices, Lilo & Stitch is poised to be not just a summer hit, but a meaningful chapter in Disney’s evolving legacy of storytelling. The spirit of ʻohana—nobody gets left behind or forgotten—is not just a plot point. It’s the pulse of the entire project.

Synosis :
The touching and funny story of a lonely little Hawaiian girl and a fugitive alien who helps her reconnect with her family.

Lilo & Stitch
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp
Screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van Waes
Based on Lilo & Stitch (2002) by Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Produced by Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin
Starring Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, Maia Kealoha
Cinematography : Nigel Bluck
Edited by Adam Gerstel, Phillip J. Bartell
Music by Dan Romer
Production companies : Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates : May 17, 2025 (El Capitan Theatre), May 21, 2025 (France),M ay 23, 2025 (United States)
Running time : 108 minutes