Walt Disney Studios announced a live action “Lilo & Stitch 2” is in development on Thursday, June 26. The date is significant because Stitch, a blue alien whose wild antics make up most of the plot, is known as Experiment 626.
Disney’s live action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which released about a month ago, on Friday, May 23, is approaching $1 billion in sales, according to boxofficemojo.com. As of today, the film had brought in $914,396,949 worldwide. The film features local talent, including Hawaiʻi Island-born Maia Kealoha, as Lilo, and Kauai-born Sydney Agudong as Nani, her big sister, as well as Oʻahu-born Kaipo Dudoit as David Kawena, Nani’s love interest.
The original animated “Lilo & Stitch” movie was released in 2002. Disney’s live action remake features appearances from voice actors who were part of that movie, including Amy Hill (the voice Mrs. Hasagawa in the animated movie, who plays tutu in the live action one), Jason Scott Lee (the voice of David Kawena in the animated movie who plays the manager of a luau in the live action one) and Tia Carrere (the voice of Nani in the animated movie who plays Mrs. Kekoa, the social worker, in the live action one). Stitch’s voice remains the same in both movies and is brought to life by Chris Sanders.
The soundtrack for the live action film is filled with familiar voices. The line-up includes the return of Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus. But there are also new voices, including 2023 “American Idol” winner Iam Tongi, who grew in Kahuku, and the North Shore brothers Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm, who sing an Elvis Presley song reproduced by their uncle, Bruno Mars.
In the live action movie, the Kamehameha Children’s Chorus is led by Choir Director Lynell Bright, who also directed the choir that performed music for the original animated movie more than 20 years ago. Bright has an extra special connection to this film because her son, Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, is one of its screenwriters.
Watch the trailer for Disney’s live action “Lilo & Stitch” movie, which is in theaters. Get tickets.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
