Lilo & Stitch (2025) Cast
Walt Disney Pictures | Family, Comedy, Adventure, Sci-Fi | Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp
Lilo & Stitch (2025) is Disney's live-action remake of the beloved 2002 animated film. Set in Hawaii, it follows the lonely young girl Lilo, who adopts what she believes is a dog but is actually Experiment 626 — an alien creature created by the rogue scientist Dr. Jumba. As galactic agents close in to reclaim the experiment, Lilo and her older sister Nani find that "ohana" — family — includes this strange, destructive, but ultimately lovable alien. Dean Fleischer Camp directed from a script that preserves the warmth and humor of the original while adapting it for a live-action format.
The Lilo & Stitch 2025 cast combines a newcomer at its heart — Hawaiian actress Maia Kealoha, making her feature debut as Lilo — with established performers in the key adult roles. Stitch himself remains the province of Chris Sanders, who voiced and co-directed the original 2002 film and has returned to the character in virtually every iteration since. The supporting cast draws on recognizable comic talent in Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen, while Courtney B. Vance and Hannah Waddingham add dramatic weight to roles that balance the film's lighter tone. The decision to cast Hawaiian actress Sydney Agudong as Nani was widely praised as a commitment to authentic representation of the story's Hawaiian setting.
Main Cast
Maia Kealoha
Lilo
The eccentric, fiercely independent young Hawaiian girl who adopts Stitch; Kealoha makes her feature film debut in the role that anchors the entire story.
Sydney Agudong
Nani
Lilo's teenage older sister who works to keep the family together while under threat of losing custody; Agudong, of Hawaiian descent, brings authenticity and emotional depth to the role.
Chris Sanders
Stitch (voice)
The creator of the original animated film returns to voice the blue alien experiment, giving the CGI character the same mischievous growls and unexpected tenderness that defined the 2002 version.
Zach Galifianakis
Dr. Jumba Jookiba
The megalomaniacal alien scientist who created Stitch and is dispatched to retrieve him; Galifianakis plays the role with broad physical comedy and a thick invented accent.
Billy Magnussen
Agent Pleakley
Jumba's hapless Galactic Federation partner who is supposed to ensure Earth's fauna remains undisturbed; Magnussen leans into the character's fussy, anxious comedy.
Courtney B. Vance
Cobra Bubbles
The imposing social worker who investigates whether Nani is fit to care for Lilo; Vance brings a quietly authoritative presence to a character who turns out to be more than he seems.
Hannah Waddingham
Grand Councilwoman
The stern head of the Galactic Federation who orders Stitch's retrieval; Waddingham, known for Ted Lasso, commands authority in a role that demands both imposing presence and unexpected compassion.
Tia Carrere
Supporting role
Tia Carrere, who starred in the original 2002 animated film as Nani's voice actress, appears in the live-action version in a different capacity — a nod to the franchise's history.
Amy Hill
Supporting role
Amy Hill, a veteran character actress familiar to audiences from dozens of film and television roles, appears in a supporting capacity in the live-action remake.
Supporting Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maia Kealoha | Lilo | Young Hawaiian protagonist; lead of the film | Feature film debut |
| Sydney Agudong | Nani | Lilo's older sister and guardian | Hawaiian actress |
| Chris Sanders | Stitch (voice) | The alien experiment at the center of the story | Creator of the original; voices Stitch in all versions |
| Zach Galifianakis | Dr. Jumba Jookiba | Alien scientist who created Stitch | Live-action debut of the character |
| Billy Magnussen | Agent Pleakley | Galactic Federation agent; Jumba's partner | Live-action debut of the character |
| Courtney B. Vance | Cobra Bubbles | Social worker monitoring Lilo and Nani's household | Live-action remake |
| Hannah Waddingham | Grand Councilwoman | Head of the Galactic Federation | Live-action remake |
| Tia Carrere | Supporting role | Franchise veteran in a new role | Original animated film voice of Nani |
| Amy Hill | Supporting role | Character actress in a supporting part | Supporting cast |
Creators & Production
Dean Fleischer Camp
Director — Best known for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On; his background blending live-action and animation made him an apt choice for this hybrid production.
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright
Screenplay — Wrote the live-action adaptation, working to preserve the story's Hawaiian cultural grounding.
Dan Lin
Producer — A veteran of Disney live-action remakes including Aladdin, Lin oversaw the production.
Jonathan Eirich
Producer — Lin's producing partner on multiple Disney live-action projects.
Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
Original Film — Sanders and DeBlois created and directed the beloved 2002 animated original on which the remake is based.
About the Lilo & Stitch 2025 Cast
The casting of Maia Kealoha as Lilo was the pivotal decision around which the entire film was built. Disney conducted an extensive search for a young Hawaiian actress, and Kealoha was selected from a large pool of candidates. Her performance captures Lilo's odd-duck personality and deep loneliness without sentimentalizing either quality — she is funny, strange, and immediately sympathetic in a way that makes the film's emotional beats work. The decision to cast Sydney Agudong, who is of Filipino and Hawaiian descent, as Nani was equally deliberate, reflecting Disney's stated commitment to authentic cultural representation in the live-action remake rather than casting outside the Pacific Islander community.
Chris Sanders' return as the voice of Stitch is the clearest act of continuity between the original 2002 film and the 2025 remake. Sanders, who co-wrote and co-directed the animated original, has voiced Stitch in theatrical features, direct-to-video sequels, television series, and short films — making the character essentially inseparable from his vocal performance. The CGI design of Stitch in the live-action film was itself a significant creative challenge, as the character had to feel consistent with audience expectations while functioning convincingly alongside human performers and real Hawaiian locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Lilo in the 2025 Lilo & Stitch movie?
Lilo is played by Maia Kealoha, a young Hawaiian actress making her feature film debut in the live-action remake.
Who voices Stitch in the 2025 Lilo & Stitch?
Chris Sanders reprises the voice of Stitch in the 2025 live-action film. Sanders co-wrote and directed the original 2002 animated film and has voiced the character in every major production since.
Who directed the 2025 Lilo & Stitch?
The 2025 Lilo & Stitch was directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, best known for directing the animated film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021).
When was the 2025 Lilo & Stitch released?
The live-action Lilo & Stitch was released in theaters on May 23, 2025, by Walt Disney Pictures.
Who plays Nani in the 2025 Lilo & Stitch?
Nani, Lilo's older sister and guardian, is played by Sydney Agudong in the 2025 live-action film.
Who plays Jumba and Pleakley in the 2025 Lilo & Stitch?
Dr. Jumba Jookiba is played by Zach Galifianakis and Agent Pleakley is played by Billy Magnussen in the 2025 live-action remake.
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