Cast of Lilo & Stitch: Live-Action 2025 and Original

When Disney announced a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, longtime fans wondered whether the new film would honor the original’s heart. One decision immediately set the tone: Chris Sanders, who wrote and directed the 2002 animated classic, returns to voice the franchise’s most beloved character—Stitch. That continuity runs through the entire cast, where original cast members take on new roles alongside fresh faces representing Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

Lilo (Live-Action): Maia Kealoha · Nani (Live-Action): Sydney Agudong · Stitch (Voice): Chris Sanders · Jumba (Live-Action): Zach Galifianakis · Pleakley (Live-Action): Billy Magnussen

The key facts table below consolidates the major casting decisions for quick reference.

Who played Lilo in Lilo and Stitch?

Daveigh Chase gave Lilo her iconic voice in the 2002 animated original, capturing the character’s blend of mischief and vulnerability that made her resonate with audiences worldwide. The actress was relatively unknown before landing the role, which became her breakout performance.

For the 2025 live-action remake, the role of Lilo goes to Maia Kealoha, a young Hawaiian actress whose casting reflects Disney’s commitment to authentic representation for the story set in Hawaii. According to DirecTV’s coverage of the cast, Kealoha’s casting was part of a deliberate effort to work with Hawaiian and Pacific Islander talent throughout production, including cultural advisors who consulted on the remake.

Original film voice actor

• Daveigh Chase voiced Lilo in the 2002 animated film. She later appeared in the television series continuation and built a career in animation voice work.

Live-action remake actress

• Maia Kealoha plays Lilo in the 2025 live-action film. Her casting was announced as part of Disney’s broader initiative to cast authentic Hawaiian talent in the production.

Cast of Lilo & Stitch live action

The live-action cast brings together established Hollywood talent with fresh faces from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Sydney Agudong takes on the role of Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian—a character who carries significant emotional weight in the story as the one keeping the family together. Sydney Agudong is an actress, singer, and professional songwriter according to behind-the-scenes material from the production.

Several original voice actors have been replaced by notable names for the remake. Zach Galifianakis, known for his work in The Hangover trilogy, takes over as the voice of Dr. Jumba Jookiba—the mad scientist who created Stitch. Screen Rant reports that Galifianakis replaces David Ogden Stiers, who voiced Jumba in the original film.

Billy Magnussen, who appeared in the James Bond film No Time to Die, voices Agent Wendell Pleakley in the remake. Kevin McDonald originally voiced Pleakley in the animated version, making this another significant casting change for the franchise.

Main cast list

• Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai
• Sydney Agudong as Nani Pelekai
• Chris Sanders as Stitch (voice)
• Zach Galifianakis as Dr. Jumba Jookiba (voice)
• Billy Magnussen as Agent Wendell Pleakley (voice)
• Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles

Supporting roles

• Hannah Waddingham (known for Ted Lasso) voices the Grand Councilwoman of the United Galactic Federation, replacing Zoe Caldwell from the original
• Kaipo Dudoit plays David Kawena in the remake, taking over from Jason Scott Lee who voiced the character in the 2002 film

The 2025 remake uses holograms for Pleakley and Jumba, who disguise themselves as real humans for most of the movie’s action. This technical approach allows the voice actors to perform alongside live-action cast while maintaining the characters’ alien nature visually.

Is Stitch a boy or a girl?

Stitch is consistently referred to as male throughout the franchise, with Screen Rant confirming that Chris Sanders voices the character as male and that the character’s design and dialogue always reflect masculine pronouns. The original film establishes Stitch as the 626th experiment created by Jumba, and the character’s behavior throughout the animated series reinforces this characterization.

Character design

• Stitch was designed as a male character from conception, with Chris Sanders creating an alien that combined destructiveness with unexpected affection
• The character’s design has remained consistent across the franchise, with the 2025 remake using CGI and performance capture to maintain the original appearance

Pronouns in franchise

• All dialogue in the original film and television series uses male pronouns for Stitch
• Merchandise, official descriptions, and Disney’s own materials consistently refer to Stitch as male
• The 2025 live-action remake maintains this characterization with Chris Sanders returning to the voice role

Is Lilo autistic?

Disney has never officially confirmed that Lilo is autistic, despite widespread fan speculation about the character based on her behavior, social interactions, and the way she processes the world around her. The topic generates significant discussion in fan communities, though no official statement from Disney addresses it.

What is clear is that Lilo displays traits that many fans and neurodivergent viewers find relatable. Her intense special interests, difficulty with social norms, honest communication style, and the way she finds comfort in routines and specific obsessions resonate strongly with autistic viewers.

Fan theories

• Fan communities have extensively analyzed Lilo’s behavior, pointing to characteristics that align with autism spectrum presentations
• The character has become a representation figure for many neurodivergent fans who see themselves in her experiences
• Fan-created analyses frequently cite specific scenes showing Lilo’s unique processing style and social challenges

Official statements

• No official confirmation or denial exists from Disney regarding Lilo’s neurodivergent status
• The original film’s creators have not addressed the topic in interviews or official communications
• The 2025 remake has also not addressed whether the character is intended to be autistic

What is Stitch’s weakness?

Stitch’s primary vulnerabilities stem from his original programming as a weapon—he was designed to be indestructible and highly destructive, but the genetic experiments that made him formidable also created specific weaknesses. The most prominent is his fear of water and his inability to float, which directly contradicts his designed abilities and causes him significant distress.

Canon vulnerabilities

• Water exposure: Stitch cannot swim and becomes vulnerable when submerged, making him defenseless against water-based threats
• Jumba’s other experiments: Several of the 625 experiments created before Stitch prove capable of harming or containing him
• Sound sensitivity: The character’s enhanced hearing makes him susceptible to high-frequency sounds that can incapacitate him
• Emotional manipulation: Stitch’s development of genuine attachments creates emotional vulnerabilities that antagonists can exploit

Episode references

• The animated series repeatedly uses water as a plot device to create danger specifically for Stitch
• Episodes featuring experiments like Spooky and Chopsuey demonstrate how other creations can overcome Stitch’s capabilities
• The character’s growing love for his family creates emotional vulnerabilities that the series explores regularly

The implication: Stitch’s weaknesses were built into him intentionally as part of his design as an experiment—making him formidable but controllable through specific triggers. The 2025 remake’s technical approach to visualizing Stitch may emphasize these vulnerabilities differently than the original animation did.

Original vs. Remake: Complete Cast Comparison

The 2025 live-action remake reuses several original cast members by placing them in new live-action roles, creating a sense of continuity that connects the two versions of the story.

The pattern here is unmistakable: Disney prioritized keeping the original’s creative architect (Chris Sanders) while refreshing nearly every other voice role with actors who either bring star power or cultural authenticity to the remake.

Chris Sanders serves as a creative consultant in the 2025 remake to ensure Stitch stays true to his original character while the technical team works to blend cutting-edge CGI with performance capture.

— Behind the Scenes on YouTube

Confirmed Facts

• IMDb-listed 2025 cast includes Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Courtney B. Vance, and Hannah Waddingham
• Original 2002 voice cast included Daveigh Chase (Lilo), Tia Carrere (Nani), Chris Sanders (Stitch), David Ogden Stiers (Jumba), Kevin McDonald (Pleakley), and Ving Rhames (Cobra Bubbles)
• Chris Sanders wrote and directed the original 2002 animated film and returns as Stitch’s voice in the remake
• The remake releases Memorial Day Weekend 2025

What Remains Unclear

• Season 2 full cast details have not been released by Disney, leaving open questions about which animated series voice actors might join the production
• Some supporting roles in the 2025 film remain unconfirmed, with the production team holding back announcements for several minor characters
• Whether Daveigh Chase or any other original cast members make cameo appearances remains unannounced

The 2025 Lilo & Stitch live-action remake prioritizes authentic casting and cultural respect, working with Hawaiian and Pacific Islander talent and advisors throughout production.

— DirecTV entertainment coverage

The live-action version refreshes familiar roles, much like the 2002 vs 2025 cast comparison reveals by juxtaposing Chris Sanders’ iconic Stitch voice against the new ensemble’s interpretations.

Frequently asked questions

For fans who’ve watched Lilo & Stitch since 2002, the 2025 remake represents both a risk and an opportunity. The decision to keep Chris Sanders as Stitch signals that Disney understands what made the original work—the character’s core personality and the emotional authenticity that Sanders brought to the voice. Pairing that continuity with a genuine commitment to Hawaiian and Pacific Islander representation through casting like Maia Kealoha as Lilo suggests the production understood its obligations to the source material’s cultural context. Whether the balance lands will depend on execution, but the casting choices demonstrate awareness of what matters to this particular audience.