Disney has finally unveiled a glimpse of Stitch in their latest live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, and to be honest, it’s a tad unsettling.
Recently, we were treated to a teaser for another cherished animated classic, How to Train Your Dragon, currently being transformed into another live-action moneymaker. Now, Disney’s joined the bandwagon, releasing a 30-second sneak peek yesterday. In it, Stitch takes on a comical Godzilla-esque role, demolishing a sandcastle resembling the iconic Disney castle, alongside a few ordinary ones. Apart from a brief moment at the end where CGI meets reality to reveal the release date—mark your calendars for May 23, 2025—there’s not much else to latch onto here. Definitely a minimalist first peek!
Speaking of the storyline, it’s nothing new under the sun. The official synopsis sticks to the original tale, highlighting the bond between a lonely girl, Lilo, and an alien designed for chaos, Stitch. While Chris Sanders returns to lend his voice to Stitch once more, Dean Fleischer Camp, known for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, takes the reins as the director in this iteration.
The cast features some fresh and familiar faces. Making her debut, Maia Kealoha is set to play Lilo, with Sydney Agudong of On My Block fame stepping in as her big sister, Nani. Zach Galifianakis (you might remember him from The Hangover) voices Jumba, while Billy Magnussen (Game Night) plays Pleakley. Hannah Waddingham, known for her stellar performance in Ted Lasso, also joins the lineup, and though her role remains under wraps, she’s a strong contender for the Grand Councilwoman.
With less than a year before the film’s release, we can expect a full trailer soon. Meanwhile, Disney isn’t resting on its laurels. They’re gearing up for a major earnings boost this holiday season with Moana 2 hitting theaters this week.
