Latest news with #liveActionRemake
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Business
- Geek Tyrant
LILO & STITCH Director Responds to Backlash Over Live-Action Ending: 'It Just Felt Like the Right Thing to Do' — GeekTyrant
Disney's Lilo & Stitch live-action remake has been a financial success, pulling in over $360 million globally, but not everyone is thrilled about the creative choices, especially when it comes to the film's reimagined ending. Now, director Dean Fleischer Camp has stepped in to address the controversy and offer some insight into the thinking behind the film's most debated change. Unlike the 2002 animated original, the new version shifts who ends up raising Lilo. Instead of Nani and David taking on guardianship together, David and his grandmother become Lilo's foster family, while Nani leaves for college. She's still part of Lilo's life, visiting regularly through Jumba's portal gun, but this change has sparked criticism from some fans, who feel Nani 'abandoned' her sister. Camp doesn't see it that way. Responding on X, the Marcel the Shell filmmaker linked to an article defending the movie's ending and wrote: 'For anybody questioning the ending of our film, this beautiful piece [...] nails it.' He later followed up with: 'Thank you for sharing your stories with me. It seems like the people with actual lived experiences like this are the ones with whom this ending resonates the most.' For Camp, the decision to have Nani pursue her own dreams wasn't about removing her from Lilo's life, it was about deepening the story's emotional layers. Speaking to Deadline, he explained: 'I think that was one of the things that we talked about, thematically modernizing and updating for this live-action version was broadening the idea of Ohana and complicating it with a little more nuance. It just felt like the right thing to do.' He elaborated on how Nani's arc felt incomplete in the original, adding: 'Given that Nani, who I always felt was a little too rose-colored glasses for somebody in her situation, was so smart and has had to abandon a lot of these dreams or defer them because she had to take care of her little sister and inherited all this responsibility at such a young age. 'It just felt like she might not have such an easy time buying into, 'Nobody gets left behind' because she certainly would feel like, well, I'm struggling here. So that informed the approach that we took with the story and with the arch between the two sisters and what the resolution ended up being.' These changes are part of a broader update to the film's themes. While the original leaned into the sweetness and simplicity of Ohana, the remake digs into the complications that come with sacrifice, ambition, and the many ways families evolve. It's a creative choice that doesn't sit well with everyone, but it's a choice Camp 100% stands by. The new Lilo & Stitch stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, and introduces Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Chris Sanders reprises his role as the voice of Stitch, with a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. Whether you're on board with the new ending or not, it's clear the creative team aimed to expand the story rather than simply replicate it. As Camp's comments make clear, the goal wasn't to rewrite what made Lilo & Stitch special, it was to explore it in a different light.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Then and Now, It's a Thrill to Star Alongside Stitch
When Maia Kealoha learned that she was going to play Lilo in Disney's live-action remake of 'Lilo & Stitch,' she sobbed big, fat, happy tears. 'That might be the first time I was quiet in my whole entire life,' she said of the video call with the film's director, Dean Fleischer Camp, in 2023, when he asked her to be his Lilo. Kealoha, 8, is a big fan of the original animated film from 2002 about a destructive but adorable alien experiment named Stitch who crash-lands in Hawaii and befriends a young girl named Lilo. The film, which earned more than $273 million (or $484 million when adjusted for inflation) at the global box office, was one of the first Disney animated movies to be driven by a nonromantic story line. It also won praise for its strong female characters and nuanced depictions of Hawaii. 'I've seen it 1,000 times,' Kealoha, who was born and raised on Hawaii's Big Island, said in a recent video call. 'It's so good.' Stitch, unsurprisingly, is her favorite character. The rambunctious blue troublemaker also reminds her of someone she knows: Her 1-year-old brother, Micah Kealoha. 'I relate to Nani sometimes when I have to take the blame for my brother, or just protect him,' she said, referring to the adult older sister who becomes Lilo's legal guardian after their parents' deaths. 'And sometimes I have to teach him some lessons and how to be good.' The film was Kealoha's first time acting onscreen, but for several of her castmates, it was a return to a franchise that has come to encompass three direct-to-video sequels, three television series and a number of theme park rides, as well as oodles upon oodles of Stitch merch. Among them: Chris Sanders, a director and writer of the original animated film who created Stitch and has voiced him in almost every Disney production to date, and Tia Carrere, who played Nani originally and now returns as a social worker, Mrs. Kekoa, who checks up on Lilo. 'It's really gratifying to see the amount of excitement surrounding its release,' said Sanders, who recently directed 'The Wild Robot' (2024). 'The greatest hope was for him to be a character that endures. That's something you can't engineer — whether it happens or not is up to the zeitgeist. So the way it has connected is so exciting.' It's particularly poignant to Sanders that it is Stitch, of all the characters from his films, who has proved to have such a lasting presence. 'For him to be this massive in the Disney universe, I'm really proud of, because he's me,' he said of the lovable misfit and menace. 'It's not a big leap when I write him.' Carrere was, at 58, too old to play Nani in the live-action adaptation. But the role was a career highlight for her. 'It was so important for me to be able to represent Hawaii,' Carrere, who is from Honolulu, said on a recent video call. So she knew she had to be a part of the reboot in any way possible. She asked about portraying a new character — a supportive neighbor, Tutu, who becomes a surrogate grandmother to Nani and Lilo — but the filmmakers wanted someone a little older (the role eventually went to the 72-year-old Amy Hill, who voiced the kindly old fruit vendor, Mrs. Hasagawa, in the animated version). But they came back with a better offer: Would she like to play Mrs. Kekoa, the now friendly and helpful social worker who takes the place of the intimidating Cobra Bubbles character from the animated film? 'It was perfect, because instead of playing Nani, I'm playing Nani's mentor all these years later,' she said. Though she originally related to Nani, she now also feels for the social worker: In the live-action version, the character was re-envisioned, at Carrere's suggestion, to be a product of the system herself, more interested in helping Nani navigate it than in taking Lilo from her. 'Back then I was younger, I didn't have a kid — I was a little all over the place, a little more Nani-like,' said Carrere, who has younger sisters in addition to an adult daughter. 'Now it's interesting to have the parallel as a woman being more in that mentoring role with younger actresses that I work with.' In the new film, the back story for Nani (Sydney Agudong) has been expanded: Now, she is a former star student and athlete who had to put her dreams of becoming a marine biologist on hold to take care of Lilo. Agudong, 24, who is from Kauai, Hawaii, grew up a big fan of the original film, which she watched for the first time when she was a year old. She initially had a case of impostor syndrome, unsure how much to draw on Carrere's portrayal, and how much to put her own stamp on the character. A video call with Carrere shortly after she booked the role, she said, helped guide her. 'She said, 'You got the role because they saw something in you, and you trusted your instincts, so you need to trust that, and you need to have fun with it,' Agudong recalled, adding that Carrere reminded her that she, too, was a big sister (to the actress Siena Agudong) and hailed from Hawaii. ''You need to own that,'' Agudong said Carrere told her. The younger actress realized, 'She was right, and it gave me a lot of freedom in my artistic expression and in my own identity.' Nani's determination in the face of obstacles was relatable in the original, but in the new film, her personal sacrifices are an even greater point of emphasis. Agudong said she conceived of Nani as a young woman whose thoughts frequently get 'stuck in her throat.' She added, 'You could see that she was struggling and kicking her feet under the water like a swan, but then still trying to look as graceful as possible, because she has to stick a smile on her face to be able to keep her sister around.' In addition to a few new characters and the absence of the original big bad, the whale-like Stitch hunter Captain Gantu, there were other changes for the live-action movie. For one, how those who acted alongside the now-C.G.I.-generated Stitch worked. In live shots with the actors, the mischievous blue alien was represented by a tennis ball, a person in a gray suit or a lifelike Stitch puppet, Kealoha said. That must have been a bit of a challenging scene partner, right? 'It was actually easy to imagine that Stitch was there because everyone says I have an endless imagination,' Kealoha said, grinning. The new film also expanded on the original's nods to Hawaiian culture, which now include Nani's ukulele-playing skills and love of surfing. Agudong had surfed before, casually, but said she enjoyed the water training she was able to do with local big-wave surfers. 'They were also locals and so it felt like you were just going to the beach with family,' she said. 'It was a dream come true. I felt like I got my childhood back.' Over all, the actors said, they are proud of how the new film recalls the original while also very much charting its own course. 'It's a really nice way to share light and love and the sense of aloha and ohana that is Hawaii,' Agudong said, referring to the Hawaiian words conveying harmony and family. She added, 'I'm really excited for my community to be able to see themselves in that.' Carrere remembers how excited fans were to see a 'thick, brown Disney princess' when the original was released 23 years ago. Nani is 'sturdy, she's strong, she's a surfer, she's athletic, she's running in her boots and cutoff jean shorts and her T-shirt,' Carrere said. 'She's not a dainty, waifish person. I remember a lot of girls coming up and commenting on that because they felt that their body type was celebrated.' Kealoha said she hoped that a new generation of girls could also relate to her Lilo — and not just to feeling misunderstood. 'She's fearless. She's strong-minded. We both have big hearts. She loves her ohana very much, and she would do anything for her people — or aliens,' she said, laughing.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Lilo & Stitch' Stars Say 'Organic Authenticity' of the Film's Hawaiian Representation Is 'Important' (Exclusive)
Lilo & Stitch is a live-action remake of the beloved 2002 animated film about an alien crash-landing in Hawaii The movie was filmed on Oahu, employing local talent on and off the screen Hawaii-born talent Tia Carrere, Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong tell PEOPLE about the film's authentic representation of the islandsLilo & Stitch is back, now in live-action form. Whereas Disney's 2002 animated hit came to life in 2D, the studio's 2025 version immerses audiences in the beauty of Hawaii, Lilo's homeland, filmed on location. For Oahu-born Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original and returns as new character Mrs. Kekoa, authentically representing Hawaiian culture was crucial. 'It's important because it's the stuff that you feel when you're there,' the actress, 58, tells PEOPLE. 'And if it's missing, you would have been like, 'That doesn't sound [or look] right.' ' Because authentic representation was also a goal for director Dean Fleischer Camp and Chris Sanders — co-creator of the 2002 original and returning as the mischievous blue alien's voice — Carrere jumped back into the world of Lilo & Stitch with enthusiasm. 'That's why I was so excited when I first met with these guys,' she recalls of early talks about the remake. 'We had dinner and I got to talk about, 'Hey, can I do the part with pidgin English?'' Lilo, Nani and each of their neighbors should 'sound like a local,' Carrere says. Filmed on the island of Oahu (although set on Kauai), the new Lilo & Stitch brought kamaʻāina, or native-born, talent in front of and behind the camera. Maia Kealoha, the newcomer who plays Lilo, hails from the Big Island of Hawaii; Sydney Agudong, playing Lilo's sister Nani, is from Kauai; Kaipo Dudoit, who plays their neighbor David, is from Oahu; Hawaii-raised Jason Scott Lee (who voiced David in the animated original) returns as a luau manager. Also making the jump from animated original to live-action remake is much of the music, from Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu and The Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus to songs from Elvis Presley — and a new cover of "Burning Love" produced by Oahu-born Bruno Mars. Queen Liliʻuokalani's famous folk song, "Aloha ʻOe,' is sung by Kealoha and Agudong as a duet in a poignant scene. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'I'm all for organic authenticity,' Agudong, 24, tells PEOPLE. When it comes to stories set and filmed in Hawaii, 'you don't get to see that often.' Plus, throughout filming, she was a quick plane ride from her family on Kauai. 'I [felt] like I was already home on Oahu,' Agudong says, 'expanding that community and my friendships. Because it was already such in my heart and soul.' She adds, 'Hawaii is extremely talented. … To finally get a platform that showcases that, it was absolutely amazing to see. I really hope that it will spark more of that in the future.' Kealoha, 8, chimes in: 'Yeah! And I hope that I get more acting [jobs] in Hawaii again.' (The young actress stars in the upcoming Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista action-comedy The Wrecking Crew, filmed partially in Hawaii.) Carrere says she feels 'grateful' for the opportunity to transport audiences to an authentic depiction of Hawaii. 'I was so happy to be invited to the conversation,' says the Grammy winner. 'I think local people [are] happy to be seen and represented on screen that way.' Lilo & Stitch, also starring Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Courtney B. Vance and Amy Hill, is in theaters now. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Lilo & Stitch' Director Dean Fleischer Camp, Stars Maia Kealoha & Sydney Elizebeth Agudong & Producer Jonathan Eirich Talk Contemporary Updates To Classic Story
SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains details from Disney's 2025 Lilo & Stitch More from Deadline 'Lilo & Stitch' Taking Down 'Top Gun: Maverick' For Record Memorial Day Weekend Opening $170M-$180M; 'Mission: Impossible 8' Eyes $78M 4-day Debut - Box Office Update 'Lilo & Stitch' & 'Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning' To Fuel Near Half-Billion Combined Global Debut In A Memorial Day Weekend For The Record Books - Box Office Preview Sterling K. Brown's 'Washington Black' Limited Series Gets Premiere Date At Hulu Even though it's been two decades since the release of the original animated film Lilo & Stitch, the theme of Ohana is anything but left behind or forgotten. In the new live-action remake directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, who co-wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, the meaning of sisterhood, found family, and not sacrificing your dreams in the face of hardships are at the forefront. Mostly similar to the animated film, the story follows a quirky young girl named Lilo (played here by newcomer Maia Kealoha) who unknowingly befriends a manic fugitive alien named Stitch (a role reprised by Chris Sanders, who also served as co-director and co-writer of the animated film) that inadvertently helps mend the relationship with her sister Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong). In the 23 years between films, it's natural that the remake would have contemporary twists. This time around, Lilo and Nani's Ohana is expanded to her witty and wise neighbor Tūtū (Amy Hill), an original character, and Nani's easygoing crush David (Kaipo Dudoit), who is retconned here as Tūtū's grandson. These characters help Nani, who put her college dreams aside, to take care of Lilo as she tries to balance job stability under the threat of losing Lilo to the state and child protective services. During a press junket, Deadline spoke to Camp, producer Jonathan Eirich, Kealoha and Agudong about the new additions, casting and the joys of continuing the legacy of Lilo & Stitch. DEADLINE: Talk about your relationship with Lilo & Stitch and your initial feelings upon being able to direct the remake. DEAN FLEISCHER CAMP: It's always been my favorite Disney animated film, and it's always been the one that I felt like I could do a live-action adaptation of because when I saw the original in theaters, I was in high school, and it didn't look like any other animated Disney movie I'd ever seen. The characters felt so authentic and a little rough around the edges in a way that I now know is the influence of Chris Sanders' actual, original art style. But at the time, I just thought, wow, this is such a different look for a Disney movie. It's also the thing that made it seem like there's a great opportunity here to tell a live-action version of these characters because, unlike most Disney animated films, it takes place in contemporary society. It stars real, mostly humans going through some real stuff that many other humans go through daily. So, it felt like a great opportunity. I jumped at the chance. DEADLINE: When did you find out that it would switch from being a Disney+-only release to a wide theatrical? JONATHAN EIRICH: It was an ongoing conversation and a process. It wasn't official-official until right before D23, so that's when we sort of landed on what the release date was going to be and revealing Stitch to the world. But it was always being discussed, and I think there was always a conversation about which way it would go. Thankfully, we're so excited for this movie to be in theaters, so I think audiences will get what they hope for. CAMP: I was so happy when I found that out because, sure, it will reach a different type of audience [on streaming] or whatever, but I think we're always trying to make a movie that you would want to see with a big group in a big theater and feel all the feelings together. The movie is about Ohana and all those things, so it really enhances the experience. DEADLINE: There's this resonating theme about the imperfect family. In addition to changes in the story about Nani having these career ambitions as a marine biologist. Why were these themes important for your version of the film? CAMP: I'm so glad you noticed that. I think that was one of the things that we talked about, thematically modernizing and updating for this live-action version was broadening the idea of Ohana and complicating it with a little more nuance. It just felt like the right thing to do. Given that Nani, who I always felt was a little too rose-colored glasses for somebody in her situation, was so smart and has had to abandon a lot of these dreams or defer them because she had to take care of her little sister and inherited all this responsibility at such a young age. It just felt like she might not have such an easy time buying into, 'Nobody gets left behind' because she certainly would feel like, well, I'm struggling here. So that informed the approach that we took with the story and with the arch between the two sisters and what the resolution ended up being. DEADLINE: How did you find Maia? Why was she perfect for Lilo? CAMP: She lit up the room when she walked in. I think we all felt like we had a real front-runner here. We cast a wide net and tried to see as many kids as we could because it's a really unusual thing to find somebody who checks all those boxes and has enthusiasm, maturity and imagination. She's a needle in a haystack and we're so glad that we found her. And I can remember thinking when she walked in, it was so clear, and this should be important to any casting director. It was so clear when Maia walked in that she was dragging her parents to these auditions and not the other way around at all. EIRICH: The only other added element is that we were casting Sydney as Nani at that point too. So, when there was this scary moment where we're like, well, now we have to do a chemistry read, how do they feel together? Because she seems like she's the front-runner. When they met, it was like they had been sisters for 20 years. They've been that way ever since too. It's a beautiful relationship they have. DEADLINE: What were some non-negotiables? Things that you absolutely had to do in this movie. CAMP: I think we were all coming from a place of real love for the original. It's always been my favorite Disney movie. And so, I think there were a lot of those, and sometimes you have to let go and kill your darlings and it just doesn't work out for one reason or another. But I think the main things that we were really focused on, we got, and I'm proud that we nailed it. I think the character design of Stitch and his personality really coming through was one. I think that bringing back so much of the original Ohana that made the first one special like Chris Sanders and Tia Carrere [who voiced Nani in the 2002 film] and consulting with a lot of the original animation team were just super important to us and lucky enough that they worked out. DEADLINE: Talk a bit more about getting Chris Sanders to return, as he's in the middle of a creative whirlwind right now, between and the live-action . Was there a universe where you didn't use Chris at all? CAMP: No universe exists like that out there. It's the summer of Chris Sanders right now. Having him return was one of the first conversations we had. Luckily, he's the guy he is, and he was so supportive, enthusiastic, and happy to provide the voice and a little bit of guidance here and there. He was one of the first people, once we had landed on a concept art of live-action Stitch, who was proud of how it turned out. DEADLINE: In what ways do you relate to your characters? MAIA KEALOHA: I relate to her because we're both from Hawaii and we're a little bit sassy. We also like fun clothes, and we love surfing. I go surfing in my free time. We also love to dance hula because hula tells a story just like you can tell a story about any different kind of movie. SYDNEY ELIZEBETH AGUDONG: I'm an absolute OG fan of the film. I was looking at this new one like a clean slate. So, I really took to a lot of her identity as the older sister. It was something I held on to the entire time. The idea of self-sacrifice to the point that you almost forget your own needs and wants because you want to make sure that you can make your sister happy or your family happy was a very similar thing for me. DEADLINE: Nani gets a lot of agency in this movie. How did you view the modern adaptation of this story? AGUDONG: I was stoked. Again, I'm a huge fan of the original and we really wanted to make sure that we paid homage to that. I think we did that well. But here we've balanced it out with a lot of the original aspects of the movie that everybody loves and holds dear. We were able to go deeper and that was cool to focus on not just the Lilo and Stitch aspect of things alongside the chaos, but also the familial architecture in paying mind to Nani's tough circumstances and how realistic her situation was. It isn't all sunshine and rainbows for her. That was really cool to explore. DEADLINE: How did you get to do your first film role? KEALOHA: I had tried out for the Mini Miss Kona Coffee [pageant] and I won. They asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said I wanted to be a star because Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. [a show on Disney+] got me into acting because I thought that was real. So, then sometime later, there was a [notice] about the live-action Lilo & Stitch on the news. So, then I was like, wow, I can be the youngest actor in the world, and I can be in a movie that I've always loved. DEADLINE: What would you like people to take away from this version of ? AGUDONG: It's a family film. That's why there's longevity and timelessness to it because its themes are timeless. The way that the movie is based in Hawaii is perfect because I feel there's no better place to represent family in the way that I think it doesn't matter if you're related by blood or if you come from a different country or what you look like. You're always going to find somewhere that you belong. With this reimagination, that's a huge thing that I want the world to be able to consider and be able to enjoy and remember. Everybody has a place to belong. Family means what you want it to mean. [This interview has been edited for length and clarity.] Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Lilo & Stitch' Review: Disney's Live-Action Remake Will Engage the Kids, Exhaust the Parents
Disney's insatiable quest to mine its own IP continues with this live-action remake of an animated film that premiered a mere 23 years ago. But hey, that's enough time for a new generation of potential fans to be born while tapping into the nostalgia of those who grew up watching not only the original movie but also its three direct-to-video sequels and three television series. Creatively, there's no real reason for this version of Lilo & Stitch to exist, especially since the film's version of Stitch is necessarily animated as well. But commercially, that's a whole different matter, assuming Trump's tariffs don't prevent toy stores from being fully stocked with the plush toy version that will be on many children's wish list for Santa. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Lilo & Stitch' Star Courtney B. Vance Teases Box Office Opponent 'Mission: Impossible': "I Don't Think You Can Compete With Stitch, Tom" 'Black Mirror' Season 7 Trailer and Episodic Details Revealed 'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Remake Makes Splash With Full Trailer Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, following in the tradition of acclaimed indie filmmakers (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) graduating to the big-budget leagues (this film cost a reported $100 million), the live-action Lilo & Stitch is faithful enough to the original to please traditionalists and tweaked enough to feel somewhat fresh. The most notable change is the emotional deepening of the relationship between the 6-year-old Hawaiian orphan Lilo (Maia Kealoha, bringing real heart and sparkling personality to the role) and her older sister, Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong), who's struggling to maintain her guardianship amid financial difficulties and Lilo's rebellious behavior. The story begins with a sequence set on a planet ruled by the United Galactic Federation and its leader, the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham, just as imposing in animated form as in real life), featuring the sort of ugly CGI animation that makes you long for the human actors to appear. That's where we're introduced to Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, reprising his role from the original), a destruction-loving, genetically engineered creature created by mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis). Threatened with exile, Stitch manages to escape and winds up on Earth — Hawaii, to be specific — where he's pursued by Jumba and Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), who's assigned to chaperone him. Shortly after arriving, the duo manage to assume human form, providing the opportunity for the two actors to showcase their considerable physical comedy skills as their characters awkwardly adapt to their new bodies. Meanwhile, the koala-like, very blue Stitch winds up in an animal shelter, where he's surprisingly mistaken for a dog (one of the film's running gags) and gets adopted by Lilo. The little girl and the adorable but rambunctious creature get off to a rough start, not helped by the latter's propensity for wreaking havoc wherever he goes. But their bond continues to deepen as she teaches him that, wait for it, 'Ohana means family.' Along the way, there are enough madcap events, fast-paced chases and dangerous situations to pad the film's running time to 108 minutes compared to the original's peppy 85. For adults, a little of the visual chaos will go a long way, with Stitch, cute as he is, not exactly E.T. in terms of appeal. But younger viewers should eat it all up, and those weaned on the original film will appreciate the numerous shout-outs, including supporting turns by Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original, and Jason Scott Lee, who voiced Nani's surfer friend David (here played by Kaipo Dudoit). There are several new characters as well, such as David's feisty grandmother (an amusing Amy Hill, another veteran of the franchise) and Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance), a federal agent attempting to track down Stitch. (And yes, the character's name is a callback to the social worker in the original.) In both incarnations, Lilo & Stitch is not in the first rank of Disney family films, as evidenced by the fact that this remake was originally slated to go direct-to-streaming. But that should hardly matter, with this version likely to clean up at the box office at the start of the busy summer season. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
