Our new Lilo is here!
Disney has finally found its new Lilo in the flesh of a young Hawaiian girl, Maia Kealoha. The five-year-old child actress is set to headline the live remake of the 2002 cult classic animated film, “Lilo & Stitch.”
Kealoha joins the initially announced Zach Galifiankis who will play Pleakley–a green alien-like character in the film. While Kealoha is considered a newbie without any acting credits, her role is still substantiated by multiple appearances in Little Miss Kona Coffee pageants.
Oscar-nominated director Dean Fleischer Camp has been assigned to direct the remake. He will be working closely with producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich who took the same post in the 2019 live-action feature of “Aladdin.”
Filming was originally scheduled in 2020 but multiple, undisclosed delays pushed its wrap-up further than expected. Now that the lineup of characters is being filled one by one, it would not take too long before the public can stream the film on Disney+.
READ ALSO: Disney Drops New Trailer For “Peter Pan and Wendy”
Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois wrote and directed the 2002 feature film. Though the initial release did not see tighter audience traction, the ensuing years have cemented it as one of the early 2000s cult classics. To date, the film has several installments, with three additional sequels and two television seasons.
“Lilo & Stitch” follows a Hawaiian girl, Lilo Pelekai. Being raised by her 19-year-old sister Nani, Lilo grows up distant from her peers. However, she seems to connect with a blue alien creature named Stitch that has crashed on Earth.
Banner Art Dani Sison
