Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch has found its Nani. The character of Nani is the older sister and legal guardian of Lilo, with the sisters’ relationship being a focal point of the story. The upcoming movie will bring the beloved 2002 animated movie Lilo & Stitch into live-action, following the success of Disney remaking other animated movies, including Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong has been cast as Nani. This continues the trend of Disney casting newcomers for the leading roles of Lilo & Stitch. The live-action movie marks the first-ever role for Maia Kealoha, who was cast as Lilo just a few weeks ago. Agudong is a relative newcomer with only a handful of credits, including an episode of NCIS and two episodes of Netflix’s On My Block.
What We Know About Disney’s Live-Action Lilo & Stitch
Lilo and Nani are not the only roles who have so far been cast. Zach Galafinakis was cast in Lilo & Stitch first, although his exact role remains unconfirmed. There has been speculation that Galafinakis will be the voice of Stitch, who will be brought to life through CG. Galafinakis could also play the aliens Pleakley or Jumba. No Time to Die actor Billy Magnussen was also cast recently in an unconfirmed role.
Lilo & Stitch will be directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, who recently directed the Oscar-nominated film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Filming has begun on the island of Oahu, a fitting choice considering that the story takes place in Hawaii. Once the movie is completed, it will be released directly on Disney+, skipping theaters entirely.
As Lilo & Stitch continues to take shape, it is exciting to see that it will provide more exposure for new talent in Hollywood. As the cast continues to be rounded out, there could be even more newcomers making their debuts in the project, or the filmmakers could turn their eyes to more known actors akin to the castings of Galafinakis and Magnussen. Between Lilo & Stitch and May’s The Little Mermaid, Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes are among the company’s most highly-anticipated releases.
Source: THR