A live-action remake of 2002 animated hit Lilo & Stitch is in the works at Disney, per THR.
Lilo & Stitch joins a long slate of animated Disney films getting the live-action remake treatment, with such high-profile titles on the way as a Tim Burton-directed Dumbo, a Donald Glover- and Beyoncé-starring The Lion King, and an Aladdin remake directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Will Smith as Genie.
Producers Dan Lin and Jonathan EIrich of Rideback, who were already at work on the Aladdin remake for Disney, will also be taking on producing duties on the new project, with Rideback’s Ryan Halprin co-producing. The remake will be penned by newcomer Mike Van Waes, with a still-unannounced director. The forthcoming feature project is intended to be filmed in the same hybrid live-action/CG style as hit Disney remakes from the past few years like The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast.
The original Lilo & Stitch wasn’t a massive box office hit at the time, but it performed well enough to revive Disney Animation’s then-flagging fortunes, and it marked the debut of directing duo Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, who would go on to helm the beloved How to Train Your Dragon trilogy for DreamWorks.
It’s unclear whether the feature adaptation will land on Disney’s forthcoming streaming service, launching next year, where its Lady and the Tramp remake starring Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux will reportedly arrive. However, it’s a safe bet considering the success that the Lilo & Stitch franchise has had on the home video market, where it’s spawned multiple direct-to-video sequels, as well as several television series.
Disney has had a solid box-office run with its live-action ‘reimaginings’ of animated classics so far, but we’ll have to see if they’re pushing their luck when this Lilo & Stitch remake lands in theaters and/or on streaming.