Disney‘s string of live-action remakes of animated films continues this year with “The Little Mermaid” this May and “Peter Pan & Wendy” later. Now it’s time to add another to the list. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Zach Galifianakis will headline the cast of a “Lilo & Stitch” live-action adaptation, with Disney planning for the film as a major release on Disney+.
READ MORE: Disney Reveals 2023 Schedule: Dating Pixar Films, ‘Snow White’ & ‘Next Goal Wins’
Dean Fleischer Camp, director of “Marcel The Shell With Shoes On,” will direct the project. A coup for both Camp and Disney, as “Marcel” is up for the Best Animated Feature Oscar next month after that film’s unanimous critical praise. As for other players on board this remake? Chris Kekaniokalani Bright pens the adaptation’s script, from Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois‘ original for the 2002 film. Disney currently searches for a young actress who’ll play Lilo, but Stitch, of course, will remain a CGI performance. It’s also unknown who Galifianakis plays yet in the upcoming film.
For those who forget or haven’t seen “Lilo & Stitch,” the film follows the friendship between a lonely Hawaiian girl Lilo and a canine-like alien bred for destruction she meets called Stitch. As the two forge a familial bond, they must fend off social workers and angry aliens to save their friendship.
The “Lilo & Stitch” remake marks Galifianakis’ first studio film since 2017’s “A Wrinkle In Time,” another Disney pic. Since then, the actor has worked on TV, including co-creating and starring in FX‘s “Baskets.” He also continues to do voice work on various projects. But Galifianakis could be back on the big screen more often very soon. Along with this project, he also has “The Beanie Bubble” with Elizabeth Banks upcoming, about the Beanie Baby crazy in the 1990s. That’s an Apple TV+ project, though. Galifianakis will also be in “Winner,” Susanne Fogel‘s upcoming drama about whistleblower Reality Winner, which also stars Emilia Jones, Connie Britton, and Kathryn Newton.
Expect the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” out after the myriad other Disney adaptation on the way the next couple of years, including Guy Ritchie‘s “Hercules” and “Aladdin 2,” and Barry Jenkins‘ “Mufasa: The Lion King.” So, in other words, this remake won’t see Disney+ until late 2024/early 2025.