Lilo & Stitch 2 is officially happening.
Disney has officially announced a sequel to its live-action Lilo & Stitch remake—and if you’re surprised, you haven’t been paying attention.
The news dropped Thursday, June 26th—intentionally timed to “6-26 Day,” a nod to Stitch’s designation as Experiment 626. The studio used the date as a promotional gimmick, releasing a teaser graphic confirming that Lilo & Stitch 2 is now in active development. No cast. No director. No plot. Just enough to say, “See you again soon.”
should’ve known he couldn’t keep a secret.
a 626 day surprise: #LiloAndStitch 2 is now in development! pic.twitter.com/1fVCqEhR0W
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) June 26, 2025
The decision more than makes sense. The first movie may have fallen just shy of the billion-dollar mark, but it didn’t have to hit it. With a reported production budget of only $100 million, Disney’s modernized Lilo & Stitch remake has pulled in a staggering $923 million worldwide. Most Hollywood blockbusters would kill for that kind of return—and in an era where Disney’s original films are floundering, this kind of near-perfect profit ratio made a sequel all but guaranteed.
Originally envisioned as a Disney+ exclusive, the film was quietly upgraded to a theatrical release after internal screenings reportedly exceeded expectations. In other words, Disney didn’t believe in it enough to go theatrical—until the numbers started looking good.
But they apparently believed in Snow White…
Rachel Zegler singing the original song “Waiting on a Wish” from Disney’s Snow White live action remake – YouTube, Disney
From there, the marketing machine kicked into high gear and carried the quirky little alien all the way to the international box office.
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, the film starred newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Stitch, of course, was fully CG and once again voiced by Chris Sanders. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen rounded out the cast as human-disguised alien agents hunting the genetically engineered menace-turned-pet.
Despite the strong financial showing, Thursday’s announcement was light on substance. No names were attached, no story details revealed, and no indication given whether the first film’s cast or crew will return. But when you’re Disney in 2025, none of that really matters. Familiar IP does the heavy lifting. Stitch, a blue alien with maximum merchandising appeal, is the plan.
Lilo and Stitch with Nani in the Live Action Lilo & Stitch movie – YouTube, IGN
This sequel announcement also lands against the backdrop of another rough summer for Disney’s original content. Pixar’s Elio just posted the lowest opening weekend in the studio’s history at $21 million. Meanwhile, other legacy projects like Snow White, Mufasa, and Moana continue to attract more headlines for controversy than creativity.
What Disney learned from Lilo & Stitch isn’t that audiences crave quality—it’s that nostalgia, clever branding, and a modest budget are enough to win the box office game. Especially when the alternative is sinking $200 million into an original story that struggles to earn back half that.
Lilo kisses Stitch on the nose in Lilo & Stitch – YouTube, IGN
While critics continue to sound alarms over the creative stagnation at Disney, the studio’s current leadership seems to have embraced its new identity with safer bets, fewer risks, and sequels to remakes of movies that already had direct-to-video sequels. It’s all part of the brand now.
Will you go see Lilo & Stitch 2? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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