OCTOBER 03, 2018 10:46am PT by Borys Kit
'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Remake in the Works at Disney (Exclusive)

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who are already working on the live-action remake of 'Aladdin,' are producing what will be a live-action/CG hybrid.

Stitch is back.

Lilo & Stitch, the 2002 animated movie from Walt Disney Feature Animation, is getting the live-action treatment, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The studio has hired up-and-comer Mike Van Waes to pen the script for the remake that will be produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback. The two are already known in the Disney halls as they working on the high-profile live-action remake of Aladdin.

Stitch was written and directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, who later found acclaim with How to Train Your Dragon.

The Hawaii-centric story told of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who is engineered to be a force of destruction. Pursuing aliens, social workers, and the idea of the bond of family figure into the proceedings.

While not a massive success by modern box office standards, the well-regarded movie was a bright spot in a down period of Disney’s animation history and launched several direct-to-video sequels as well as several television series.

It is unclear whether the feature project, which is intended to be a live-action/CG hybrid, is intended for theatrical release or for Disney's streaming service that launches in 2019.

Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is co-producing.

The feature project is the latest in Disney’s successful strategy of mining their past animated classics and re-purposing them as live-action tentpoles events. Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Pete’s Dragon are some of the recent releases with Dumbo, The Lion King and Aladdin among those heading moviegoers’ way in the future.

Van Waes is better known in Hollywood circles as a writer of horror fare. He wrote The Crooked Man, based on a character from New Line’s The Conjuring 2 and that is being developed as a Conjuring Universe spinoff. He also wrote Not in Kansas, a Wizard of Oz-themed horror project also set up at New Line. He is repped by CAA and Grandview.

Jon M. Chu in Talks to Direct Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Movie (Exclusive)
NOVEMBER 13, 2020 12:19PM by Borys Kit

'Stitch' was initially being developed as a possible feature for Disney+.

Jon M. Chu is gearing up for a Hawaiian roller coaster ride.

The director behind Crazy Rich Asians is in negotiations to helm Disney’s live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback, the banner behind the billion dollar-grossing live-action remake of Aladdin, are producing. Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is executive producing.

A search for a scribe to work with Chu is now underway. Mike Van Waes wrote the current draft for the project, which has not been greenlit and is still in development.

The original film was written and directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, who later found acclaim with How to Train Your Dragon.

The Hawaii-centric story told of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who is engineered to be a force of destruction. Pursuing aliens, social workers and the idea of the bond of a family all figure into the proceedings.

While not a massive success by modern box-office standards, the well-regarded movie was a bright spot in a down period of Disney's animation history and launched several direct-to-video sequels as well as several television series. The characters have also become one of the most sought-after Disney personalities in terms of merchandising.

It is unclear whether Stitch will be released theatrically or on Disney+.

Chu is finding a home at Disney as he recently boarded the Willow series, made by the studio’s Lucasfilm arm, as director and exec producer. The filmmaker, whose Asians grossed over $238 million in 2018, also exec produced and directed episodes of Apple series Home Before Dark.

In the can Chu has In the Heights, the adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical that Warner Bros. will release in 2021.

He is repped by UTA, Artists First and Stone Genow.

Dean Fleischer Camp, the filmmaker behind indie darling Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, is going Disney.

The filmmaker will direct a live-action take on Lilo & Stitch, the 2002 animated movie from Walt Disney Feature Animation. Chris Kekaniokalani Bright is in final negotiations to pen the script.

The move gets the project, which will be a tentpole feature project for Disney+, back into the water. Stitch was first throwin into development back in 2018 with up-and-comer Mike Van Waes penning the script. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing.

Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is executive producing.

The Hawaii-centric story told of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who is engineered to be a force of destruction. Pursuing aliens, social workers and the idea of the bond of a family figure into the proceedings.

While not a massive success by modern box office standards, the well-regarded movie was a bright spot in a down period of Disney’s animation history and launched several direct-to-video sequels as well as several television series.

Lilo is intended to be a live-action/CG hybrid, a form that Fleischer Camp has proven to have a mastery over. Marcel is a heartwarming tale centered on a snail on the adventure into the human world. The movie is one of the most acclaimed movies the year — it has a 99 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes — and A24 is using a platform release to build word of mouth. It has one of the highest per-screen average takes and on only 48 screens has made almost $1 million domestically.

Bright is a Hawaii-born and based scribe whose script Conviction made the Black List.

Zach Galifianakis has closed a deal to star in Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s live-action remake of its cult 2002 animated movie.

Dean Fleischer Camp, the filmmaker behind indie darling and best animated Oscar nominee Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, is directing the feature that is intended to be a major release on Disney+.

The Hawaii-centric story told of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who was genetically engineered to be a force of destruction. With nosy social workers and pursuing aliens banging on the door, the two bonded over a shared sense of family and win the day.

Details of Galifianakis’ role are being kept in the dog pound.

The studio is conducting a wide search for the actors to play Lilo and her older sister. Stitch, naturally, will be a CG confection.

Chris Kekaniokalani Bright wrote the script for the adaptation. Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois wrote and directed the original feature that, while not an initial hit, developed a loyal fanbase that only grew in the ensuing years.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing. Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is executive producing.