Sanders Returns for Sequel
Chris Sanders Confirmed to Direct and Write New Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Sequel
Key Points
Disney officially announced the live-action sequel on June 26, 2025.
Collider reports that while Sanders is confirmed to direct, he’s also expected to reprise his voice role as Stitch for the sequel.
Rideback is tied to the sequel’s producing team: Jonathan Eirich returns as producer via Rideback, with Ryan Halprin serving as executive producer, according to Europe Says (citing the production structure around the film).
Europe Says adds that shooting is already “on the wave to production,” with filming scheduled to begin later this year.
Europe Says also notes that Rideback’s next feature is a different project—“Best of the Best,” a competition dance comedy debuting on Netflix in September—highlighting the company’s broader pipeline alongside Lilo & Stitch 2.
Disney is making a live-action sequel to its blockbuster *Lilo & Stitch* remake, and it has tapped the franchise's original co-creator to lead it. Chris Sanders — who co-wrote and co-directed the 2002 animated film and voices Stitch — is set to direct and write *Lilo & Stitch 2*, Variety confirmed. The sequel will tell a brand-new story, not a retelling of any earlier animated follow-up.
The announcement comes after the 2025 live-action remake crossed $1 billion at the global box office, making it one of Disney's most successful live-action films ever. Disney officially greenlit the sequel on June 26, 2025 — a date that doubles as "Stitch Day," tied to Stitch's experiment number, 626.
Sanders Returns as Director, Writer, and Voice of Stitch
Sanders' role on the sequel is unusually broad for a Disney live-action project. He will direct, write the screenplay, and reprise his voice role as Stitch, according to Collider. That triple involvement gives him more creative control than most directors get on Disney franchise films.
Comic Book called the move "the best possible update," arguing it proves Disney takes the franchise seriously. Industry observers say Sanders' return keeps the "DNA" of the characters intact — something fans feared could be lost in a corporate-driven sequel.
A Brand-New Story, Not a Remake of the Animated Sequel
The 2005 direct-to-video film *Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch* told a darker story involving Stitch facing a life-threatening malfunction. The new live-action sequel will skip that plot entirely. Disney is going with an original screenplay instead, WDWNT reported.
This follows a pattern Disney has used with other live-action franchises. Films like *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* and *Alice Through the Looking Glass* also created new stories rather than remaking animated sequels. For *Lilo & Stitch 2*, that means fresh territory built around Lilo and her alien friend, Experiment 626.
Production Ramping Up With Rideback Behind the Camera
Producer Jonathan Eirich is returning via his production company Rideback. Ryan Halprin will serve as executive producer, according to Newsy Today. Eirich oversaw the first film's billion-dollar run, so he brings direct experience scaling this franchise.
Filming is expected to begin later in 2026, with production returning to Hawaii. Rideback is also managing other projects at the same time — including *Best of the Best*, a dance comedy debuting on Netflix in September 2026. The company's busy slate signals it has the capacity to handle a major Disney sequel alongside other work.
A Billion-Dollar Hit Drives Disney's Sequel Strategy
The 2025 remake debuted over Memorial Day weekend, setting a record for the highest-grossing Memorial Day opening ever, Variety reported. It crossed $1 billion by June 15, 2025 — less than a month after release. That performance put it among Disney's elite live-action adaptations, alongside *The Lion King* and *Aladdin*.
The sequel's budget is expected to exceed $200 million — roughly 25% more than the first film — to cover more complex CGI for alien characters. Market analysts estimate the sequel could earn $700 million to $800 million at minimum, making it a centerpiece of Disney's 2027 theatrical slate.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
10
Articles
14
Reach
24
