Lilo & Stitch 2 just got an exciting new update that will prove to be music to the ears of longtime fans of Disney’s lovable blue alien. Chris Sanders, the voice of Stitch, will direct the upcoming live-action sequel.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Sanders will now direct Disney’s upcoming Lilo & Stitch film after having co-created, co-write and co-directed the original animated film. Sanders voiced Stitch in both the animated and live-action versions of the story, and he will now continue his work behind the scenes as director. Shooting on Lilo & Stitch 2 is expected to begin sometime later this year.
Disney Teases a Brand New Story for Lilo & Stitch 2
The live-action Lilo & Stitch hit theaters in May 2025 and proved to be a massive success with audiences, despite slightly mixed reviews from critics who compared it to its animated counterpart. The film ended up passing the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing live-action/animated hybrid film in history.
Naturally, Disney quickly greenlit a sequel following Lilo & Stitch‘s box office success, and it was previously revealed that Sanders would also be writing the follow-up. It marks his first major involvement in the franchise since the original film, outside providing the voice of Stitch.
At the time of writing, Disney plans for Lilo & Stitch 2 to be released on May 26, 2028. For now, it remains to be seen exactly where the plot will be headed, but its live-action predecessor certainly gave fans some clues about where Lilo and Stitch’s next adventure might take them.
The remake of Lilo & Stitch saw Maia Kealoha starring as Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned Hawaiian girl who often finds herself in trouble, with Sydney Elizebeth Agudong starring as her older sister and legal guardian, Nani. The sisters find their lives changed forever when they adopt Stitch, an alien experiment who crashed to Earth after breaking out of prison and pretends to be their dog.
Sanders wasn’t the only Lilo & Stitch actor to return for the live-action film. Tia Carrere joined the film as the social worker Mrs. Kekoa after previously voicing Nani in the franchise, while Jason Scott Lee also had a cameo after previously voicing David in the original film and its own sequel.
Lilo & Stitch Easter Eggs Hint at Potential Fan Favorite Characters for the Sequel
With Sanders in the director’s chair, there’s arguably no one better to tackle the project and deliver exactly what fans are expecting to see when Stitch returns to the big screen. While story details are unlikely to emerge anytime soon, there were several Easter eggs hidden in the first live-action film that could be followed up in the upcoming sequel.
Producer Jonathan Eirich previously teased several fan-favorite characters who were referenced in the first film. This includes Angel (Experiment 624), Stitch’s pink counterpart who is often portrayed as his love interest, as well as Reuben (Experiment 625), the hilariously lazy alien who prefers to make sandwiches and clever jokes. The sequel could also mark the arrival of Experiment 627, the first experiment to be created on Earth who took on an antagonistic role in Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 26, 2028.
- Release Date
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May 23, 2025
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Dean Fleischer Camp
