Lilo & Stitch live-action director explains key character and story changes, new cameos, and the challenges of bringing aliens to life.
As Disney gears up for the May 23 theatrical release of its live-action Lilo & Stitch, director Dean Fleischer Camp is opening up about the creative decisions behind adapting the beloved animated classic. Known for Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, Fleischer Camp is no stranger to blending animated characters into real-world environments, but reimagining Lilo & Stitch for live action came with its own set of unique challenges—and unexpected solutions.
“The real trick,” Fleischer Camp tells Entertainment Weekly, “is to try to make a movie that rhymes really well with what people remember of the original without just doing a one-to-one exact mirror.”
And while that philosophy may raise eyebrows among Disney purists, the director assures that the emotional core of the story—particularly the bond between Lilo and Nani—remains stronger than ever.
Digging Deeper Into Lilo and Nani’s Bond
With Maia Kealoha portraying Lilo and Sydney Agudong as her older sister Nani, the film delves further into their complex sibling relationship. “We successfully orient the movie a little bit more around Nani and Lilo’s relationship,” Fleischer Camp explains. He emphasizes that in live action, depicting a six-year-old nearly being taken away by social services requires more emotional depth than animation might allow. “You have to really believe that relationship,” he says. “You can’t cheat on it or gloss it over.”
Stitch: Still Destructive, Slightly Softer
At the center of the chaos is Stitch, voiced once again by original actor Chris Sanders. While Stitch’s signature destructive energy remains intact, translating that slapstick humor into live action wasn’t simple. “Violence actually is very difficult to do; it just lands very differently,” says Fleischer Camp. “We had to figure out ways to soften the things that didn’t work in live action, but also find new things that we could do that the animated movie couldn’t.”
Jumba and Pleakley’s Controversial Look
One major visual shift comes with the alien characters Jumba Jookiba and Agent Pleakley, portrayed by Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen. In the animated version, they remained in their alien forms while clumsily disguising themselves as humans. But in the live-action adaptation, they wear full human “skin” disguises—something that stirred discussion when the trailer dropped.
Fleischer Camp admits that his team tried out CG aliens in clothes, but “it just felt like a bridge too far.” Aside from the humor not translating as well in live action, there were budgetary constraints to consider. “If you have Jumba and Pleakley in alien disguises, then you’re going to have to shortchange how much development work you can do on Stitch and these other elements,” he says. However, fans shouldn’t worry—they will still appear in alien form throughout much of the film.
Heartwarming Cameos From Original Cast
Fans of the original Lilo & Stitch will be thrilled to see familiar faces making cameos. Along with Sanders reprising his role as Stitch, the film includes appearances by Tia Carrere (original Nani), Jason Scott Lee (David), and Amy Hill (Mrs. Hasagawa).
“Jason Scott Lee probably has the smallest role of those four,” says Fleischer Camp. “He plays Nani’s manager at the luau,” but assures that each cameo is meaningful. Carrere, in particular, “brought an unexpected level of personal stuff into the role in a way that makes it way better.”
A Family Reunited
The theme of ohana—family—is not only preserved but expanded in this new iteration. “Everyone who worked on the original still feels very close to the project,” Fleischer Camp says. “It was such a gift that everyone was so excited to help us and to support us.”
With its mix of heartfelt drama, quirky alien antics, and nostalgic cameos, Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch aims to offer both longtime fans and newcomers a fresh yet familiar ride when it lands in theaters on May 23.
