Funny man Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover trilogy) has joined the long in development Disney+ remake of Lilo & Stitch, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The original animated feature was released in 2002 and was an absolute hit, and director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) will be bringing this heartwarming story to live action. Following films like Pinocchio and Lady and the Tramp, Lilo & Stitch will be a Disney+ original film, something we exclusively reported on back in 2020.
Like the animated original, the remake follows Nani, who is left to care for her young sister, Lilo, following the tragic loss of their parents, is finding it increasingly difficult to keep her head above water, while also working and going to school part-time. When the social worker suggests giving Lilo more responsibilities, Nani decides adopting a dog might be a good idea, but is in for a heck of a surprise when Lilo insists on taking home a rambunctious, out-of-control and undisciplined “dog” that she dubs, “STITCH.” However, Stitch, it turns out, is an escaped alien experiment from a distant planet, being stalked at every turn by agents looking to capture and extinguish him. However, the seemingly irredeemable Stitch is happy to discover that being loved and being part of a family are the most important things in the world — or, more accurately, the universe.
According to our sources, Galifianakis will play Pleakley, an extraterrestrial character, and a self-proclaimed expert on planet earth, who reluctantly becomes Dr. Jumba Jookiba’s partner when forced to assist him in capturing the escaped Experiment 626 [Stitch], and later becomes his best friend and roommate when the two are marooned on Earth.
Attached to produce are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback, who are coming off 2019’s billion-dollar hit remake of Aladdin and are also producing the Disney+ Inspector Gadget film, as well as the Haunted Mansion reboot. Studio execs Zoe Kent (Sade) and Louie Provost (Togo) will oversee the production.
Filming is expected to begin in Hawaii on March 13 and will shoot through June. A release date has yet to be announced by the streamer.
