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The nostalgia is real: A first look at the cast of the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie.

For many young Millennials and older Gen Zers, Lilo & Stitch was their all-time favourite childhood movie and TV series.

It follows the story of a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo, who meets and befriends Stitch - an escaped alien who poses as a dog. Now who doesn't love that! Plus the soundtrack to the move is seriously nostalgic.

The Disney animated film was released in 2002, and its success spawned a franchise that includes three direct-to-video sequels, three television series and a bunch of spin-offs.

Watch: the Lilo & Stitch Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride song. Post continues below.


Video via Disney.

A couple of years back, we heard that Disney is developing a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. And after lots and lots of waiting, production began filming earlier this year - meaning we shouldn't have much longer to go! 

Ahead of a release date being announced, here's everything we know about the cast.

Lilo - Maia Kealoha.

Maia Kealoha is a child actor from Hawaii, who loves to dance and surf.

She is quite the performer, regularly competing and performing with her local Polynesian culture and dance company. Reflecting on the news she will be playing Lilo, her family said it's a role that will "change Maia's life forever".

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"We are so grateful to everyone who helped us get here from the casting team at Ohana Casting, and all of the incredible producers and team at Rideback and Walt Disney Studios. Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo!"

Image: Disney/Instagram.

Stitch - Chris Sanders.

Chris Sanders is an American animator, director, screenwriter, producer, illustrator, and voice actor. 

He is an OG in the Lilo & Stitch family, having voiced Stitch throughout the series the 2003 movie.

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Amazingly, it was actually Sanders who created the Lilo & Stitch character Stitch while serving as the head storyboard artist for Disney Feature Animation. Sanders also has a bunch of well-known projects to his name, including How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods and The Call of the Wild.

It's not official just yet, but it's been reported that Chris Sanders is in final negotiations to reprise his role as the voice of Stitch for the new live-action version.

Image: Disney/Getty.

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Nani - Sydney Agudong.

Everyone loves Nani, Lilo's older sister and legal guardian.

Sydney Elizebeth Agudong will be playing Nani. Her previous credits include NCIS, Infamously in Love, season four of the Netflix series On My Block and the feature film West Michigan

Agudong's younger sister is also well-known in the industry. Siena Agudong is part of the Nickelodeon series Star Falls, the film Alex & Me and the Disney Channel original movie Upside-Down Magic, as well as Netflix’s adaptation of Resident Evil. So they're definitely part of a creative family!

Image: Disney/Instagram.

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David - Kaipo Dudoit.

Kaipo Dudoit is a native Hawaiian actor, hula dancer and model.

He isn't a stranger to the screen, having acted in the indie film My Partner, as well as doing TV work on Magnum P.I.

Originally, actor Kahiau Machado was announced to be portraying David, but then it emerged that Machado had used the n-word on social media, and had also posted on Instagram an inflammatory post comparing himself to Rosa Parks. As backlash towards Disney's decision to give the role to Machado increased, they decided to cast Kaipo Dudoit instead.

Image: Disney/Instagram.

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Dr. Jumba Jookiba - Zach Galifianakis. 

It's everyone's favourite funny guy Zach Galifianakis.

It was initially rumoured he would be playing Pleakley, but now it's been said he is playing Dr. Jumba Jookiba.

Best known for his role in The Hangover movies, Galifianakis has also done quite a bit of voiceover acting roles for children's movies. He's been in The Muppets Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie and G-Force.

Image: Disney/Getty.

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Pleakley - Billy Magnussen.

Billy Magnussen's star has been rising quite a lot lately. Most recently, he was in the Bond film No Time to Die, and other hits of his include Into The Woods and Game Night

For Lilo & Stitch, Magnussen will be playing Pleakley. Interestingly, this won't be his first time in a Disney live-action remake: In 2019, he portrayed Prince Anders in Guy Ritchie's Aladdin.

Image: Disney/Getty.

Tūtū - Amy Hill.

Last but certainly not least we have the fabulous Amy Hill. 

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She's a stand-up comedian, actor and voice actor who has done a large number of movies and TV shows, not limited to - 50 First Dates, All American Girl, Kung-Fu Panda and The Cat In The Hat

Hill will be playing Tūtū - Lilo and Nani's neighbour. 

Image: Disney/Getty.

Who was your favourite Lilo & Stitch character? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Disney/Instagram.

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