Lilo & Stitch is set to receive a live-action remake on Disney+, news which has been welcomed by fans of the beloved animated franchise.
Given the continued popularity of the property, we can't help but feel surprised that it isn't going to be a theatrical release and hope it ends up being better than last year's Pinocchio. Regardless, the movie certainly seems to be taking shape, with The Hangover star Zach Galifianakis recently tapped to play Pleakley.
Moana star Auli'i Cravalho remains a fan-favourite choice to play Nani, Lilo's older sister, but the title character herself has yet to be cast.
That's been confirmed by a casting call in Hawaii that suggests Disney is looking to cast a local child as the protagonist, meaning they'll likely be a complete unknown. That's not a bad thing, of course, but whoever does land the role will have a lot riding on their shoulders, particularly as Lilo is such a joyfully quirky character.
We've also learned that Lilo & Stitch's working title is "Bad Dog," a reference to Lilo believing the alien Stitch is a dog when she adopts him from a local animal shelter. As for the production company being called Blue Koala Pictures Inc., that's probably a reference to Stitch's unique appearance.
We anticipate that character being brought to life through visual effects, though it will interesting to see how his appearance is handled in a live-action setting.
Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) is directing Disney+'s Lilo & Stitch, while Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, and Mike Van Waes are all expected to receive writing credits. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback (Aladdin) are attached to produce the project.
As of right now, Lilo & Stitch doesn't have a confirmed release date.