The first photos from the set of Lilo & Stitch have found their way online (via Toonado.com) and they offer a sneak peek at young Maia Kealoha as Lilo!
The relative newcomer faces a tall task when it comes to bringing the beloved Disney character to life, especially as she's a fast-talking, whipsmart young girl who loves Elvis and finds herself trying to tame the alien Experiment 626. The studio clearly saw something special in the Native Hawaiian, though.
In these photos (and video), we see Lilo emerging from the ocean and walking across the beach. She's sporting goggles and carrying a bag, and we're guessing this is from a very early point in the movie. That probably means she hasn't met Stitch yet and we're hoping to see more cast members in due course.
Check out this new look at Lilo & Stitch below:
Joining Kealoha as Lilo is Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as her sister and mother figure Nani. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen have also joined the cast, with the prevailing theory online being that they're playing Jumba and Pleakley, respectively. Kaipot Dudoit, meanwhile, is playing David Kawena, replacing Kahiau Machado.
Last month, we learned that Courtney B. Vance will bring Cobra Bubbles to life, while original Lilo & Stitch director, Chris Sanders, is expected to reprise his role as Stitch.
Lilo & Stitch is a tale of a young girl's close encounter with the galaxy's most wanted extraterrestrial. Lilo is a lonely Hawaiian girl who adopts a small ugly "dog," whom she names Stitch. Stitch would be the perfect pet if he weren't in reality a genetic experiment who has escaped from an alien planet and crash-landed on Earth.
Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) is directing Disney+'s Lilo & Stitch, while Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, and Mike Van Waes are all expected to receive writing credits.
As of right now, Lilo & Stitch doesn't have an official release date.