Chris Sanders will direct the live-action sequel 'Lilo & Stitch 2'

There is already a confirmed director for the live-action sequel Lilo y Stitch 2and it is a familiar face and voice.

Chris Sandersco-creator, co-writer and co-director of the original 2002 animated film, has been announced as director of the next live-action installment (via THR).

Sanders, who also voiced the character of Stitch in both the animated and live-action versions, was already in charge of screenwriting duties.

The sequel is currently in pre-production, with filming expected to begin later this year. The plot will follow a completely new story.

The film will not be Sanders' debut as a director of a live-action feature film, as he made that one with The Call of the Wild (2020), starring Harrison Ford, and many CGI animals.

Sanders has a lot of experience in the field of animation, because in addition to his work on Lilo & Stitchalso took charge of How to Train Your Dragonalong with DeBlois. Sanders later co-wrote and co-directed The Croods with Kirk DeMicco, and directed solo The Wild Robot.

Lilo & Stitch 2 will be released in theaters May 26, 2028, over Memorial Day weekend, repeating the release date of the blockbuster Lilo & Stitch (2025).

Upon its premiere during Memorial Day Weekend in 2025, the live-action broke the record as the best premiere at that celebration, with $182 million, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick ($160.5 million in 2022). The animated film also became the first film to exceed one billion at the box office in 2025.

The live-action followed the line of the original film, co-written and co-directed by Sanders and Dean DeBlois. Dean Fleischer (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) directed the script of Chris Kekaniokalani Bright y Mike Van Waes.

The plot revolves around orphaned sisters, Lilo, a lonely 6-year-old girl, and teenager Nani, who live in Hawaii, and adopt a blue, chaotic alien creature, Experiment 626, better known as Stitch, while Nani tries to prove that she is a viable guardian for her younger sister Lilo.

Chris Sanders reprized his role voicing Stitch in the original language, Stitch was brought to life via CGI, while Lilo Pelekai was voiced by Maia Kealoha.

Jonathan Eirich, producer of the 2025 live-action, returns as producer of the sequel.