- The Lilo & Stich remake is coming this year
- It is based off the 2002 Disney movie
- The film has an entirely new cast
Our childhood dreams are finally coming true – we’re getting a good Disney remake – but who’s in the live action Lilo & Stitch cast?
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake will feature an entirely new cast…mostly. The original film was released in 2002 by Disney and followed a young and out-of-place girl, Lilo Pelekai, (Daveigh Chase) as she meets her best friend, a extra-terrestrial creature named Stitch or Experiment 626 (Chris Sanders). Sanders also directed the movie alongside Dean DeBlois.
Unlike High School Musical, Lilo & Stitch wasn’t an instant hit for Disney. Overall it did well at the box office, making $245 million, but that was small compared to some of Disney’s animated movies.
Reimagining a classic
However, Lilo & Stitch became loved by fans for the charming if not kind grossly cute Stitch and his awkward bestie Lilo. Not to mention the fact the movie is set in Hawaii and showcases Hawaiian life and culture on the big screen. Now, that will be brought to life in the live-action remake.
Read More: Everything We Know About the Lilo & Stitch Remake
The movie was first reported to be in the works in February 2018, although Disney confirmed the remake in August 2024 at D23. They revealed the release date and the first-look at the new live action remake. Disney released a trailer in November 2024 giving us a teaser. To summarise, it involves Stitch acting like his little beastly self and destroying a sandcastle.
But as more details come out about the movie, not a lot of focus is being put on who will bring these characters to life. Without further ado, here is everyone who is going to be in the Lilo & Stitch cast for the new movie.
Who is in the main Lilo & Stitch cast?
Lilo will be played by Maia Kealoha in her breakthrough role. Kealoha is only seven years old, how cute. Stitch is obviously not played by anyone, because you know, he’s an alien monster, but apparently Sanders is reprising his role to voice the character.
Lilo’s older sister Nani is played by Sydney Agudong. Agudong was actually born in Hawaii, so she fits the criteria very well. Nani’s future boyfriend and friend David will be played by Kaipot Dudoit. The role of David was interestingly recast, the role was supposed to be played by Kahiau Machado. However, footage arose of Machado using racial slurs, causing him to lose the role, The Hollywood Reporter notes.
Regardless, we can’t wait to see the Nani and David ship come to life.
Who is in the supporting Lilo & Stitch cast?
The burning question for this movie, is who will play the monster companions Dr Jumba and his skinny sidekick Pleakley? We’re not sure yet even in what form these two will come in, as in, will they be actors wearing prosthetics, or more like Stitch? Playing Pleakley is Billy Magnussen who most recently starred in the short-lived comedy show The Franchise.
Playing Stitch’s creator and inventor Dr Jumba is Zac Galifianakis, who doesn’t even need an introduction. If you’ve seen The Hangover movies, you know him!
Moving onto minor characters. Perhaps one of the best castings of this whole movie is Hannah Waddingham as Grand Councilwoman. In Lilo & Stitch, Grand Councilwoman is no-nonsense and regal, just like Waddingham, (Septa Unella, anyone?) She was born to play a royal, or in this case, born to play Grand Councilwoman.
Fitting into a minor but recognizable role is Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles. Honestly, Bubbles is more of a major character, and Vance’s casting is great. In the original movie his scenes with Lilo were hilarious and endearing.
What about minor characters?
There are some new editions to the Lilo & Stich franchise. Tia Carrere will play Mr. Kekoa, who is a AANHPI social worker. She voiced Nani in the first film, so it feels like a love letter to OG Lilo & Stitch fans. Previously Bubbles was Lilo’s social worker in the first movie, and he is a former CIA agent. Lilo’s grandmother who is referenced in the movie but never seen, her Tutu, as she is known will be played by Amy Hill. Hill also had a role in the 2002 film, voicing Mrs. Hasagawa.
Celia Kenney will play AJ, who we don’t know much about. Lastly, Jason Scott Lee, who voiced David in the original movie, will make a cameo. He revealed on a podcast he will play the manager of the luau where David and Nani work.
What about other characters?
Missing from the original movie are several OG characters. Captain Gantu who is tasked with capturing Stitch in the first movie is missing, as is his companion Reuben or Experiment 625. Notably, Lilo & Stitch’s main villain, Dr Hämsterviel doesn’t appear to be in the cast list either.
Hämsterviel is the central antagonist in both Lilo & Stich movies. He is Jumba’s former partner, and wants to use the experiments to rule the world and overthrow Grand Councilwoman and the Galactic Federation governing the alternate universe.
When is Lilo & Stitch released?
Lilo & Stich has a summer release date of May 23 2025. Stay tuned for any more updates on the Lilo & Stich cast and the movie.
