Lilo & Stitch 2 Is On The Way, And I Have A Hot Take About What I Don’t Want To See

by

Following the massive success of “Lilo & Stitch” in 2025, it wasn’t hard to predict that Walt Disney Studios would be considering a sequel. Just a couple months after its box office record-breaking debut, they confirmed that “Lilo & Stitch 2” is underway. As a huge fan (as expressed in my “Lilo & Stitch” review), I can’t wait to see what happens next for Lilo, Nani, and the tiny blue alien with an exceptionally high badness rating. However, I also have some unconventional ideas about aspects I hope won’t be included, which might be perceived as a bold opinion.

From my childhood, I’ve been deeply connected to “Lilo & Stitch.” Even today, the original animated film remains among my all-time favorite movies. I cherish many fond memories associated with the direct-to-video sequels and the TV series as well. With a live-action adaptation now bringing the origin story to life, I eagerly anticipate it exploring fresh grounds. Let’s delve in!

What’s Happening With Lilo & Stitch 2

As of now, it has been confirmed that Walt Disney Pictures is producing a sequel to the original movie featuring Stitch. Interestingly, Chris Sanders, who both created the character and provided its voice, is being considered for the scriptwriting role. Given his deep connection with Stitch as a character he essentially brought to life, along with his successful track record of creating family-friendly films such as The Lion King, Mulan, How To Train Your Dragon, and most recently, The Wild Robot, he seems like an ideal candidate for this sequel project.

Between Sanders and Dean DeBlois, two individuals with exceptional knowledge about Stitch, as they were the writers and directors for the animated “Lilo & Stitch” featuring him. Currently, DeBlois is engaged in the second live-action adaptation of “How To Train Your Dragon”. Details regarding a release date or plot for “Stitch 2” are scarce at this moment. However, when Sanders finalizes and gets approval on the script, production seems likely to move swiftly. This urgency stems from the fact that Lilo’s young actress is maturing rapidly.

There Are Multiple Sequels And A TV Show The Sequel Could Pull From

If you’ve watched the animated sequels and the TV series, there’s a clear path for what could happen next. Essentially, we discover that Jumba has created many more creatures like Stitch, each with unique personalities and extraordinary abilities. Following the storyline of the first film, several of these experiments hatch on Earth, and it falls to Lilo and Stitch to locate them all, eventually incorporating them into their growing family.

Reflecting on it now, this approach skillfully extended the “Ohana” narrative, centering around their shared adventures. Later, these tales evolved into an episodic series, with each installment introducing a fresh experiment. Fast-forward to the first sequel, where Stitch experiences a malfunction, causing him to intermittently revert to his old programming and display even more unruly behavior than before.

I believe it’d be entertaining for Lilo and Stitch to encounter more experiments, but from a realistic perspective, I’m concerned about how that would translate in live action. Although they did an excellent job with Stitch, I fear it might appear much more outlandish and chaotic in live-action compared to the animation, which makes me anxious. Additionally, there’s the challenge of introducing Gantu, who wasn’t part of the original movie, into the sequels, as he could potentially create visual inconsistencies. Also, don’t forget about Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel, the bunny-like alien character from the sequels and TV series.

With a Disney+ subscription, you can enjoy everything from “Lilo & Stitch”, including the latest live-action movie, starting at just $9.99 per month for their ad-supported plan. Upgrade to an ad-free experience for $15.99 monthly or save 16% and prepay $159.99 annually to watch without interruptions. Check out the offer here!

But, I Don’t Necessarily Want To See An Adaptation Of Them

The live-action adaptation sparked considerable criticism due to various alterations, such as Gantu’s character development, a more sinister Jumba, Nani attending college in San Diego, and the introduction of Tutu adopting Lilo at the end. However, I found these changes quite commendable, as they seemed designed to better fit the live-action format, rather than assuming that every animation decision could be replicated identically for the same impact.

Delving further into the world of Lilo & Stitch, I believe the animation aspect was heavily emphasized over storyline development, making a live-action adaptation less effective. Personally, I’d prefer fresh content instead of remakes or live-action adaptations of the original sequels.

Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Was At It’s Best When It Focused On The Human Storylines

In my opinion, what made the live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch” stand out from its animated counterparts was the focus on the human relationships, particularly between Lilo and Nani. It felt more impactful to me because having human actors brought a sense of authenticity and depth to their story. They were both orphaned siblings going through a challenging time as they adapted to changes in their family structure. Nani initially believed she could care for Lilo alone, but the responsibility proved to be overwhelming for someone at 18 years old.

The movie seems to have left room for additional development, particularly focusing on Nani’s college life in San Diego and Lilo and Stitch’s new situation in Hawaii with a portal gun. This setup definitely suggests some fun twists ahead. I’m hoping the sequel will delve more into outer space/alien adventures, but what truly matters is maintaining that heartwarming narrative centered around their relationship. Unfortunately, none of the follow-up stories have effectively explored Lilo and Nani’s sibling bond.

I hope Disney continues to focus on what made Lilo & Stitch successful instead of catering too much to fans who want a repeat of the original animated version. After all, opinions can vary greatly, and considering the reactions I’ve seen since the movie was released, it might be an unpopular viewpoint.

Read More

2025-09-07 19:18