How Lilo & Stitch’s Casting Choices Could Make or Break the Live-Action Remake!

by

Disney is transforming the animated classic “Lilo & Stitch” into a live-action film. To accomplish this, they have gathered both new and familiar actors to bring the story to life. The adaptation largely follows the original 2002 movie’s plot, focusing on a lonely young girl named Lilo, her older sister Nani, and their unexpected encounter with the title alien genetic experiment, Stitch, who is evading the United Galactic Federation. As they work together to keep Stitch hidden from the government, Lilo also teaches him about the significance of family.

Director Dean Fleischer Camp has brought together a stellar lineup for the Lilo & Stitch cast, with Maia Kealoha stepping into the main character’s shoes and Sydney Elizebeth Agudong playing Nani. Alongside these newcomers are both fresh faces and familiar ones from the franchise’s history. Notably returning is Chris Sanders, who co-wrote and co-directed the original movie, reprising his role as Stitch’s voice, and Tia Carrere, who played Nani in the first film, now portraying Mrs. Kekoa, the girls’ social worker. Joining them is two-time Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance, taking on the role of Cobra Bubbles from Ving Rhames in the original version.

In preparation for the upcoming release of the movie, ScreenRant had a chat with Tia Carrere, Chris Sanders, and Courtney B. Vance about the beloved film “Lilo & Stitch”. Courtney shared his thoughts on joining the franchise and what he appreciated about his character’s journey in the story, while Tia and Chris reminisced about their roles from the original movie and why they believe the casting choices were crucial for replicating the initial success.

Lilo & Stitch’s New Cast Is “Beyond” Exciting For Carrere & Sanders

“The Casting Of These Things Is Absolutely Critical…”

Upon examining the fresh cast of the movie, Carrere couldn’t help but sing praises for Agudong stepping into the role of Nani. She labeled her as “fantastic” and expressed her affection towards Sydney in this part, while also hailing Kealoha as “the ideal Lilo”. Carrere exclaimed, “The casting here is exceptional!” She added, “For me, transitioning from being the young girl everyone supports, to the woman guiding the younger one aligns perfectly with where I am in life. It’s incredibly rewarding to grow into that role.

Sanders largely concurred with Carrere’s compliments, emphasizing how crucial it is for a remake to get the casting right in order to preserve the atmosphere. One aspect of the remake that particularly pleased him was the return of Tia to the cast, praising her talent for deeply understanding and portraying her characters, making them extremely relatable and endearing. To this, Carrere gratefully acknowledged Sanders’ words and concurred that certain plot points were emotionally poignant, allowing viewers to truly see their hearts.

Sanders commented, ‘She seems to handle just as much hardship as anyone else.’ What I find captivating about your performance is its resemblance to Roy Scheider and Nicolas Cage in the sense that when you’re upset on screen, you appear to be enduring an equal amount of distress, if not more. This quality, I believe, can’t be learned; it’s something you either possess or not.

In Hawaii, as Carrere explained, there’s a strong sense of empathy and compassion that resonates deeply. She referred to the locals as having “a heart so big” and expressed that they feel each other’s pain, which lends an authentic touch to movies like “Lilo & Stitch” for Native Hawaiian actors like herself. Carrere stated that the community in Hawaii rallies together, with everyone supporting Lilo and Nani, feeling a deep sorrow as they witness their struggles.

Cobra Bubbles’ Arc Is Something Vance is “Appreciative Of”

“The World And The Family Is Amazing…”

One significant alteration made by Camp and writers Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes in the original Lilo & Stitch narrative is the transformation of Cobra Bubbles from a social worker supervising the sisters into a currently operating federal agent tasked with apprehending the titular alien. This change essentially replaces the role of Captain Gantu from the original and delves deeper into his past, which was hinted at in the animated film as he being a former CIA agent.

After contemplating his time with the movie, Vance praised not just the universe and the clan but the entire Lilo & Stitch series as “incredible.” However, he found himself particularly moved by Bubbles’ storyline in the film. “I truly enjoyed the transformation from a strict figure planning to remove a family member, to someone trying desperately to keep the family united,” Vance explained. “It was an incredible journey.

Sanders Reprising His Role Of Stitch Came With A Unique Full-Circle Moment

He Also Thinks Stitch Has A Different Kind Of Fun In 2025

Although Ben Diskin took over for English voiceovers in the Asian-produced TV spin-offs Stitch! and Stitch & Ai, Sanders has continued to be involved with the Lilo & Stitch franchise since co-creating it with Dean DeBlois. He expresses his enthusiasm that Stitch would appreciate the expanded universe of 2025 to cause mischief in, and he also shares an intriguing full-circle moment from working on the live-action remake, which made him feel as though “no time had passed at all”.

I enjoyed returning to work on Stitch once more, lending my voice. In fact, we found ourselves back in Studio B, where we originally recorded it.

More About Lilo & Stitch (2025)

In a fresh take on Disney’s 2002 animated hit, “Lilo & Stitch,” we find a heartwarming and humorous tale about a solitary Hawaiian girl and an escaped alien who help repair her fractured family. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, known for his Oscar-nominated film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, the screenplay is written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. The movie stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and newcomer Maia Kealoha. Production is led by Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin, with Tom Peitzman, Ryan Halprin, Louie Provost, and Thomas Schumacher serving as executive producers.

Stay tuned for our other Lilo & Stitch interviews with:

  • Maia Kealoha & Sydney Elizebeth Agudong
  • Dean Fleischer Camp & Jonathan Eirich

Read More

2025-05-23 19:38