Chris Sanders to Direct Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Sequel

Chris Sanders, the co-creator and original voice of Stitch, will write and direct the upcoming live-action sequel to Disney’s 2025 blockbuster “Lilo & Stitch.” The sequel is scheduled to begin filming later this year and is slated for release on May 26, 2028.

Sanders, who co-wrote and co-directed the beloved 2002 animated film, replaces Dean Fleischer Camp, who directed the 2025 remake. The remake’s screenplay was written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. Jonathan Eirich will return as producer. Sanders will continue to voice the character of Stitch, a role he has performed since the franchise’s inception.

The decision to bring Sanders on as director signals a significant creative shift for the franchise. While the 2025 live-action remake was a major commercial success, earning over $1 billion globally and setting a record for the biggest Memorial Day weekend opening in box office history, it also received mixed reviews. Some critics and fans felt the adaptation lacked the emotional core of the original animated story. By reinstating a key creative architect of the original film, Disney appears to be aiming to recapture the specific tone and heartfelt themes that...