The beloved blue alien is making a comeback. Disney has officially announced that a sequel to its live-action Lilo & Stitch remake is in development following the film’s massive box office success.
The news was confirmed on June 26, affectionately known as “626 Day” by fans, in reference to Stitch’s experiment number, with a social media teaser video featuring the mischievous alien joyriding his signature pink Jeep around the Disney studio lot and carving the title “Lilo and Stitch 2” into the pavement.
“Should’ve known he couldn’t keep a secret,” Disney shared in its caption. “A 626 Day surprise: Lilo and Stitch 2 is now in development!”
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The sequel announcement follows a record-setting theatrical debut. The 2025 live-action film earned $183 million over Memorial Day weekend, making it the biggest opening in the holiday’s history, beating Top Gun: Maverick’s 2022 numbers. As of late June, the film has grossed more than $923 million globally, according to Disney, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year behind Minecraft: The Movie.
Honoring the Original While Updating for a New Generation
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), the remake pays tribute to the original 2002 animated classic while offering a modern reimagining. Camp noted that the goal was never to simply replicate the animated film, but to preserve its emotional spirit.
“We tried to adapt it in a way that paid loving tribute to the original but wasn’t a one-to-one literal translation,” Camp said in a statement. “It was always our goal to make something that rhymed spiritually with the original film but was a little modernized.”
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Stitch was once again voiced by Chris Sanders, who co-directed the 2002 film and originated the voice of the character, a move that longtime fans applauded. The 2025 cast also features Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani, newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo, plus Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, Hannah Waddingham, Billy Magnussen, and Sanders himself.
Agudong emphasized the film’s celebration of Hawaiian culture, saying, “Hawaii is extremely talented. To finally get a platform that showcases that was absolutely amazing to see.”
A Rich Franchise With Room to Grow
Disney has no shortage of source material to draw from. The original animated Lilo & Stitch spawned several direct-to-video sequels including Stitch! The Movie (2003), Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005), and Leroy & Stitch (2006), as well as a television series.
While the studio hasn’t confirmed the plot or returning cast members for Lilo & Stitch 2, fans speculate that the sequel could take inspiration from these existing stories, especially those exploring Stitch’s origins and his 625 fellow experiments.
Fan Reactions Pour In
Reactions to the sequel news have been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from longtime fans of the original franchise. “That awesome can’t wait to see live action Lilo and Stitch 2 in theaters,” one fan tweeted. Another saying, “THIS IS AMAZING, I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!”
Others are hoping the new film will bring back a beloved character from the original film… Gantu! “Captain Gantu better be in it or I’m not watching,” one fan proclaimed.
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On Disney+, the Lilo & Stitch franchise remains a top performer. The catalog has driven over 546 million viewing hours globally, with the original film alone surpassing 280 million hours streamed.
Captain Gantu better be in it or I’m not watching. pic.twitter.com/OybLB4W8qS
— Jasper (@turquoisepogos) June 26, 2025
That awesome can’t wait to see live action Lilo and Stitch 2 in theaters. pic.twitter.com/lmi39oiLls
— Dene (@AyredinO) June 26, 2025
THIS IS AMAZING, I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!! 😍💙🥳🎉🎊
— José G. – SOTR💜 | MAYHEM🖤 (@mockingjayblaze) June 26, 2025
What’s Next for Stitch?
While no release date or creative team has been announced for Lilo & Stitch 2, the overwhelming success of the first film and Disney’s growing focus on franchise building suggest that this is only the beginning of a new era for Stitch and Lilo.
For now, fans can revisit the original animated series and films on Disney+, and catch the live-action remake in theaters.
