Although the trailer is still pending, the live action of “Lilo & Stitch” is in charge of preparing the ground with different advances. Now the new version of the 2002 film takes advantage of a recent Disney premiere to make fun of “The Lion King.”
With its latest trailer, Disney’s new live-action film shows the Experiment 626 being lifted into the air on a beach, in the same way that happens with Simba when he is presented by Rafiki to the inhabitants of the Pride Lands in the acclaimed 1994 animated film.
The teaser
The video further reinforces this homage by tricking the audience into initially thinking the trailer is a promo for “Mufasa: The Lion King.” In addition to the sneak peek, Disney released a new poster that features Stitch held in the air like Simba. The graphic is accompanied by the text “Destined for destruction.”
This graphic revives the advertising campaign that the original film carried out before its premiere. At the time, Rafiki was shown raising Stitch in place of baby Simba during The Lion King’s “Circle of Life.” Immediately afterwards, Timon appeared commenting that the alien was not the future king of the Kingdom Lands.
Then came more parodies, with Experiment 626 interrupting key musical moments from “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin.”
Returning to live action, her story (like that of 2022) follows little Lilo and her teenage sister Nani, who live in Hawaii and adopt a “dog”, which is a feared, genetically modified extraterrestrial creature, known as “Experiment 626”, which they call “Stitch”.
“Lilo and Stitch” has Dean Fleischer Camp, the filmmaker behind “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” in the director’s chair. The script was left to Chris Kekaniokalani Bright.
Chris Sander, co-director of the original film, reprises his role as the voice of Stitch, while Maia Kealoha makes her big screen debut as Lilo. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen will also star as Doctor Jumba Jookiba and Agent Pleakley, respectively. On the human side appear Sydney Agudong as Lilo’s older sister, Nani Pelekai; Kaipo Dudoit as David Kawena; Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa and Courtney B. Vance as CIA agent and caseworker Cobra Bubbles.
The new “Lilo y Stitch” opens in theaters on May 23, 2025.
