Eight-year-old Maia Kealoha has been cast as Lilo in Disney’s upcoming live-action “Lilo & Stitch.” The movie will be just under two hours long and have all the high jinx of the animated version. The script will be slightly different to accommodate the less versatile live-action format. The real news about this release is the tiny star.
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This young lady does not carry herself like an eight-year-old. Watching her through a series of interviews on Entertainment Tonight is like listening to a teeny-tiny 32-year-old. Her poise, speech patterns, eye contact, and every part of her body language hide her actual age. However, watching the trailer for the film, you see that Maia’s talent perfectly captured the role and made it her own.
Maia credits her ease of learning the script to a voracious appetite for reading. She tells the audience that her favorite books are “Dork Diaries.” Maia auditioned and was selected for the role of Lilo when she was only five, with the official announcement in March 2023. The live-action “Lilo & Stitch” will be in theaters on May 23, 2025.
Maia impresses everyone while making the rounds on talk shows, interviews, and official appearances. When asked how she identifies with the Lilo character, she responded, “She was very fun. We’re both Hawaiian. We love to dance hula. … She’s very crafty.” The interviewer said, “You and Lilo are a lot alike.” Maia nodded and said with a laugh, “UH-HUH.”
Look for Maia in future programming. Whether she stays with movies or branches into a series role, we expect to see much more of this little powerhouse. Her personality is louder than her voice, and she is ready to tackle every challenge.
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