The first teaser for Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo and Stitch’ has arrived!

In recent years, movie-goers have experienced what can only be described as “live-action fatigue,” with Disney’s constant stream of remakes from its animated classics. As a result, the announcement of a live-action Lilo & Stitch reboot was met with a rather lukewarm reception. After all, Disney’s track record for live-action adaptations, like Aladdin and Pinocchio, had been underwhelming at best. Fans worried that Lilo & Stitch, one of Disney’s most beloved films, could end up as another disappointment, especially given how the CGI fish in The Little Mermaid scared more people than it enchanted. The fear was that Stitch, the quirky alien everyone adores, could easily be turned into something creepy and unrecognizable.

However, things are looking up after the release of the movie’s first teaser trailer. The 30-second clip, although brief, gave a glimpse of Stitch doing what he does best: causing delightful chaos. In the teaser, we see him destroy a sandcastle version of the iconic Disney castle, showcasing his lovable, mischievous side. While the teaser was short, it was enough to lift some of the concerns surrounding the remake. Fans on social media have started to express some optimism, with one person admitting, “I hated the first images, but this doesn’t look that bad.” Another fan echoed similar sentiments, saying that while they were initially worried, the teaser “doesn’t look so bad.”

The biggest sigh of relief seems to come from the way Stitch is rendered. Early on, many feared that the character would look too off-putting in live-action. But after seeing the teaser, fans are mostly reassured and even excited. “Honestly, I was scared of how this would look, but I love it,” said one fan, adding that it’s also great to hear the music from the original movie. Others expressed surprise at how good the teaser looked and couldn’t wait for the full release.

That said, Disney has faced some criticism even before the teaser dropped. Some fans were upset when they announced that the role of Cobra Bubbles, originally voiced by Ving Rhames, would instead be played by Courtney Vance. The casting of Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, a light-skinned Hawaiian actress, as Nani also stirred controversy, with some accusing Disney of whitewashing. Similarly, Kahiau Machado’s casting as Nani’s love interest, David Kawena, was met with backlash over his lighter skin tone. These casting choices fueled debates about representation and authenticity.

Despite the early controversy, the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake boasts a talented cast. Alongside Courtney Vance, Agudong, and Machado, Chris Sanders—who voiced Stitch in the original—returns to reprise his role. Maia Kealoha stars as Lilo, Billy Magnussen voices Agent Pleakley, and Zach Galifianakis joins the cast in an unspecified role. The film is set to be released in May 2025 and will join a growing list of upcoming live-action adaptations, including Snow White, Moana, Hercules, and Mufasa: The Lion King.

For Disney, the positive fan reaction to the Lilo & Stitch teaser is likely a big win, signaling that maybe—just maybe—the remake might live up to the high expectations.