Disney’s new remake eyes $100M opening

Just a few months after the box-office flop of the live-action Snow White remake (which reportedly lost at least $100 million), Disney is back with a new hybrid live-action/CGI remake directed by Dean Fleischer Camp. This time, it’s one of its most beloved animated titles of recent years: Lilo & Stitch, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The touching and hilarious family comedy, set in Hawaii, explores the deep bond that forms between a mischievous blue alien (Experiment 626, later renamed Stitch) on the run, and a spirited six-year-old orphan, Lilo (played by the talented newcomer Maia Kealoha). The film will premiere in Italian theaters on May 21 and in the U.S. on May 23.

Despite a global box office clash with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, early pre-sale data is promising, with U.S. opening weekend projections reaching around $100 million.

The original 2002 animated film by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois is faithfully adapted, with minor changes. The remake features Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and, in a voice role, Hannah Waddingham. It emphasizes the core theme of ohana — Hawaiian for “family” — a concept that includes friends and all those we love.

The story adds emotional depth by highlighting the relationship between Lilo and her 18-year-old sister Nani (Agudong), who has been raising her since their parents’ death, struggling with financial and emotional challenges while trying to avoid losing custody of her sister to social services (represented by the understanding Mrs. Kekoa, played by Tia Carrere, the voice of Nani in the 2002 film).

Lilo, isolated from her peers due to her fiery personality, finds an unlikely friend and companion in Stitch, a brilliant, strong, and short-tempered alien fugitive from the planet Turo. After crash-landing on Earth and being captured and placed in a shelter, Stitch is adopted by Lilo. Their chaotic friendship evolves into a genuine bond, expanding their unconventional ohana.

Director Dean Fleischer Camp — Oscar-nominated in 2023 for Marcel the Shell — shared in the production notes:

“The original has always been my favorite Disney film. It’s a kind of fractured fairy tale: unlike most Disney movies, there are no princesses. It’s set in a contemporary setting in Hawaii, and most of the characters are ordinary humans living their lives and seeking happiness. That made it perfect for a live-action remake that stays true to the original while exploring the emotional depth of these human characters.”

Agudong and the director agreed early on that the film reflects “a very real and tangible family situation,” with Agudong noting, “It doesn’t mean it’s a broken family. Everyone can be a family.”

The comedy is enriched by the dynamic duo of Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis, playing the alien characters Pleakley and Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the eccentric creator of Stitch.

A strong connection to the original is maintained with the return of Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch.

“His closest neighbor in a Disney neighborhood might be Donald Duck,” Sanders explains.

“Donald can do a good job, but often gets caught in his own messes. Stitch was designed to be a villain who becomes a hero. That was unique then — and still is.”