Disney’s Lilo and Stitch is set for a live-action/computer-generated remake, according to The Hollywood Reporter exclusive. It has been 16 years since Disney introduced us to Elvis-loving Lilo and Experiment 626, and I could not be more excited to rekindle the Ohana mantra.
The story follows Hawaiian sisters Nani and Lilo. Their regular adventures include hula class, taking Pudge the fish a peanut butter sandwich, photographing beachgoers with ice creams, and trying to make ends meet -- and some friends. However, when Lilo spots a falling star that ends up being her new “puppy” Stitch, an illegal alien experiment escaped from Dr. Jumba Jookiba and Galactic Defense Industries, their lives become a little more interesting.
This intergalactic addition arrives among a string of other live-action Disney releases: Cinderella (2015), Jungle Book (2016) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). But wait, there’s more! Disney will continue reliving the magic with upcoming remakes of Dumbo (2019), The Lion King (2019), Aladdin (2019) and Mulan (2020).
Originally written and directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, Lilo and Stitch will be brought to live-action life thanks to horror gurus Mike Van Waes (The Crooked Man; The Conjuring 2), Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich (It). I hope they don’t make Stitch too scary, though I am somewhat reassured of their family-friendly efforts due to Lin and Eirich’s current work on Aladdin.
At this stage I am unsure whether Lilo will appear in theaters or whether it will follow Lady and The Tramp’s live-action lead and go straight to Disney’s upcoming streaming service set to launch in 2019. Lilo’s original release grossed a modest $273 million at the worldwide box office, so most bets are on a straight-to-streaming release. Either way, I am ready to embrace this newbie because no Disney film gets left behind, or forgotten.
