The beloved Disney classic returns as a live-action reimagining, opens in cinemas today!
Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders) and Lilo Pelekai (Maia Kealoha) in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
May 16, 2025, Philippines – This summer, get ready to reunite with your favorite duo as Disney’s Lilo & Stitch returns to the big screen in a brand-new live-action reimagining. Bursting with heart, humor, and Hawaiian spirit, this fresh take introduces a new generation to the timeless story of found family, endearing misfits, and unconditional love.
Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, the film stars newcomer Maia Kealoha in her screen debut as the spirited 6-year-old Lilo, and Chris Sanders returns as the voice of the mischievous yet endearing Stitch.
Set in modern-day Hawai’i, the story follows Lilo, a girl full of imagination, an Elvis Presley obsession, and a rebellious streak, as she meets a blue alien fugitive who crash-lands into her world and changes her life forever. Together, they prove that family isn’t always about blood— it’s about sticking together no matter the flaws.
(L-R): Lilo Pelekai (Maia Kealoha), Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), and Nani Pelekai (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong) in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Finding Lilo was the biggest challenge,” says producer Jonathan Eirich. “We needed someone young who could realistically play a girl growing up in Hawai’i. Maia Kealoha blew us away with her energy, humor, and dramatic ability. She truly is Lilo.”
The film also features Hawaiian-raised actress of Filipino heritage Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani, along with Billy Magnussen as Pleakley, Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa, Hannah Waddingham as Grand Councilwoman, Zach Galifianakis as Jumba, and Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles. Anchored in authentic performances and a deep respect for Hawaiian culture, the live-action remake remains true to the emotional heartbeat of the original 2002 animated film that became a global phenomenon.
“Lilo & Stitch separates itself because it’s not about a princess or a faraway kingdom—it’s about feeling out of place and alone,” adds Eirich. “That unique bond between Lilo and Stitch is what connects deeply with audiences then and now.”
Whether you’re watching for the first time or falling in love all over again, Lilo & Stitch is a funny, feel-everything adventure that captures the spirit of ‘ohana’—where no one gets left behind or forgotten.
Lilo & Stitch opens in cinemas nationwide next week on May 21. Gather the whole family for a fun summer movie adventure you won’t forget and book your tickets now: https://www.disney.ph/movies/lilo-and-stitch
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