Today, we at Knight Edge Media learned that a casting call has gone out for the leads in the upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch feature film by Walt Disney. Originally, Jon. M Chu was attached to helm the film but director Dean Fleischer-Camp took over in July. Now the casting call is for the lead roles of Lilo, Nani, and David. Also casting call went out for their neighbor Tutu and the social worker Mrs. Kekoa (as opposed to Mr. Bubbles in the original film).
[LILO PELEKAI]
6-8 years old. A young, precocious Native Hawaiian girl who loves hula, surfing, and wildlife, with a special affinity for all things “gross.” She has a propulsive imagination and a colorful rebellious streak that often lands her in hot water. Needless to say, she doesn’t fit in. Her classmates consider her a “weirdie,” and aside from her homemade ragdoll Scrump, she has few friends. To complicate matters, her parents’ death a few years back has left her and her older sister Nani all alone and warped by grief, though you wouldn’t know it from Lilo’s relentless, fun loving optimism. When a social worker recommends that Nani and Lilo adopt a dog as a companion for her, Lilo is stoked! But this new addition to the family proves to be more than they bargained for: Unruly, impulsive, and freakishly strong; he’s a furry, ugly-cute wrecking ball seemingly bent on destroying everything in his path. To Nani, this “dog” is a total nightmare. But to Lilo, she’s just found her new best friend!…LEAD (1) We encourage submissions of diverse actors, including actors who are of Native Hawaiian/Polynesian/Maori descent.[NANI PELEKAI]
18, intelligent, overachieving, athletic, Type A, Native Hawaiian. Lilo’s harried but well- intentioned older sister, whose role as Lilo’s sole caretaker and legal guardian has recently transformed her from a straight-A student with unbeatable extracurriculars and a bright future (with a Fulbright Scholarship to boot!) into a smiling pressure cooker who might just blow at any minute. She’s doing her level best to muscle through an impossible situation, but lately her level best just hasn’t been enough. Caring for Lilo while keeping up her grades and holding down a steady job ain’t easy, and her shortcomings have recently drawn unwanted attention from Child Protective Services, who threaten to separate the sisters if they can’t reform. Undeterred, Nani is committed to keeping Lilo out of foster care by maintaining a stable living situation. But the bills are piling up, Nani’s slipping at school and at work, and their Social Services case worker, Mrs. Kekoa, is beginning to lose patience…LEAD (2) We encourage submissions of diverse actors, including actors who are of Native Hawaiian/Polynesian/Maori descent.[TUTU]
70s, Native Hawaiian, she is a warm, quick-witted woman who speaks with a local Pidgin accent. Lilo and Nani’s neighbor, she has known the Pelekai family for years. She’s also kind and hospitable, and understanding of Lilo and Nani’s struggles …LEAD (15) We encourage submissions of diverse actors, including actors who are of Native Hawaiian/Polynesian/Maori descent.[MRS. KEKOA]
55, AANHPI, she is a social worker, a practical, by-the-book kind and patient woman who checks in regularly with Nani, whom she can tell is struggling to keep her head above water while taking care of her younger sister. However, she can’t help but be alarmed by what she finds at the house, unnerved to think that young Lilo is not receiving the supervision she needs. Later, Mrs. Kekoa has no choice but to look for a satisfactory foster family…LEAD (7)[DAVID KAWENA]
18, Native Hawaiian, handsome in a boy-next-door way, he is Tutu’s grandson who’s clearly sweet on Nani. A decent, good-hearted young man, he is a student at the local community college and also works with Nani at the hotel where he performs the Fire Knife Dance for the tourists. An avid surfer, he can see that Nani has been tense of late and knows nothing can cure a sour disposition better than a “couple of boards and some choice waves.”…LEAD (2) We encourage submissions of diverse actors, including actors who are of Native Hawaiian/Polynesian/Maori descent.
Production is expected to begin in February 2023 and run through May 2023 in Hawaii. Rideback Ranch producers Dan Lin & Ryan Halprin (Avatar: The Last Airbender, The LEGO Movie) are attached to produce the live-action film with Jonathan Eirich. Many fans have long fancast Hawaiian native actress Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) in the role of Nani.
Lilo & Stitch will debut exclusively on Disney+