One of the most popular children's franchises of all time is about to hit the big screen, with Disney's Lilo & Stitch arriving at Cineworld cinemas on May 21st. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, this live-action take on the beloved TV series sees Maia Kealoha step into the role of Lilo Pelekai, the orphaned Hawaiian girl who forms a close friendship with an extra-terrestrial dog-like creature (voiced by the franchise's co-creator Chris Sanders).
Coming 23 years after Lilo & Stitch was first created, the movie is one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year. But why should you come and see it? Here's what you need to know about this upcoming family blockbuster...
It's actually the second Lilo & Stitch film
Lilo & Stitch was first made into a movie way back in 2002 – the same year that the series was first shown on television. Like the TV show, it was animated, with Daveigh Chase lending her voice to Lilo, and Chris Sanders providing the voice of Stitch. Sanders isn't the only one who returns for this new movie – Tia Carrere and Jason Scott Lee also reprise their roles from the original film.
It has a fun plot
Lilo & Stitch is about a young Hawaiian girl (Lilo) who's dealing with the recent loss of her parents. To help her cope, her older sister Nani takes her to an animal shelter to adopt a pet. However, the 'dog' Lilo chooses turns out to be Experiment 626, a genetically engineered alien designed for destruction, who's escaped to Earth to avoid being captured by his creators. Cue anarchy and mayhem as 'Stitch' navigates his new surroundings and attempts to evade the authorities.
Zach Galifianakis is in it
Joining the cast for this live-action remake is comedy star Zach Galifianakis, who's probably best known for playing oddball Alan in the Hangover films. In Lilo & Stitch, he plays Dr Jumba Jookiba, the zany scientist responsible for creating the titular dog creature. At the time of writing, we hadn't seen any clips of Galifianakis in his new role, but we can't wait to see what he does with it.
Maia Kealoha had to read multiple times for the role
It's fair to say that the film's production team didn't cut any corners when it came to selecting the perfect Lilo. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, their eventual choice, Maia Kealoha, claimed that she had to read no fewer than 15 times in her audition. The effort paid off, though, and the young actress revealed that she was dumbfounded when she was told she'd landed the role. "I was speechless," she recalled. "I was crying."
The director has won lots of awards
You may not have heard of Dean Fleischer Camp, but the Lilo & Stitch director caused something of a ripple in Hollywood with his 2021 live-action/stop-motion mockumentary Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Telling the story of a filmmaker who befriends a talking shell following the break-up of his marriage, it scooped numerous awards and was even nominated for an Oscar. It went down a storm with critics, too, with Rotten Tomatoes calling it "poignant, profound and utterly heartwarming".
The trailer looks absolutely hysterical
Watching the trailer for Lilo & Stitch, we were left in no doubt that this is going to be an entertaining movie! From hot-wiring a toy car to riding a surfboard, Stitch is seen getting up to all kinds of scrapes, which should lead to a few belly laughs. As yet, the first reviews for the film haven't been published, but as soon as they are, we'll let you know how people are reacting to it!
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