Lilo & Stitch is coming back in 2025, and there are good reasons this is one Disney live-action adaptation we're looking forward to!
Disney has been on a tear in the last decade with live-action adaptations of past Disney animated films. While some may slam them as inferior compared to the originals, the box office successes of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid show there is an audience for them. True, some have been less than stellar (Pinocchio), and hopes for the upcoming Snow White are low, to say the least.
Yet Lilo & Stitch is different. The 2002 film was arguably the last great hand-drawn animated Disney film, grossing $273 million. It spawned its own cartoon series spin-off, the Stitch's Great Escape ride at Disney World and the character is still popular. So having it join the live-action trend seems inevitable and there's reasons to be excited for it.
1. The story remains a top one
The movie has always been a winner for the storyline as mischievous alien Stitch lands on Earth, befriends a quirky girl named Lilo, and their bond grows as he avoids some intergalactic cops and scientists. It focuses on family with Lilo and older sister Nani having issues but always there and Stitch becoming accepted into this odd dynamic.
The live-action version should keep to the spirit of the original with the addition of more scenes and having real actors in the roles can bring more heart to the tale. It's one of Disney's more underrated family stories and can work in live-action.
2. It can expand on the original tale
One thing these live-action adaptations do is toss in some stuff the animated versions didn't have time for. In this case, it appears Lilo and Nani's parents died years ago, Lilo not remembering them as well but it's added to her quirky attitude. Meanwhile, Nani is attempting to focus on her schoolwork and raising her sister. So we'll get more of the challenges the pair face before Stitch enters their lives, adding a layer of drama to the proceedings.