Today, we at Knight Edge Media have exclusively learned that up-and-coming Hawaiian actress Maia Kealoha has been cast as Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action movie (later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter). The actress doesn’t have any acting credits but has appeared in multiple Little Miss Kona Coffee pageants (via Instagram). Kealoha also follows and is followed back on Instagram by Executive Producer Ryan Halprin. She joins the previously announced cast member Zach Galifianakis as the alien Pleakley. This casting comes as Rideback Ranch held an open casting call for the role since November, as we at Knight Edge Media previously reported.
However, while production was expected to begin in February in Hawaii, it has since been pushed back due to the extensive VFX for all the alien creatures. We have also learned that Moana actress Auli’i Cravalho did speak to Disney at one point about playing Lilo’s sister Nani but didn’t sign on due to her commitments to Mean Girls The Musical: The Movie. Disney could circle back to Cravalho after she finishes filming Mean Girls though that is unknown. We also heard Chris Sanders could return to voice Stitch once again. Finally, our friends at The DisInsider revealed casting is underway for Lilo’s red-haired bully Mertle.
Lilo & Stitch has no set release date