Lilo & Stitch‘s new star explained how she got her part in an adorable new video feature. While Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch in the upcoming Disney live-action remake, newcomer Maia Kealoha steps in to play the movie’s other titular character, Lilo. Kealoha is surrounded by a cast of more seasoned stars, including Hannah Waddingham, Tia Carrere, Billy Magnussen, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, Sydney Agudong, and Amy Hill. The Lilo & Stich trailer recently came out, giving the first look at the young Hawaiian girl and her alien best friend in live-action.
In a new video from Entertainment Tonight, Kealoha discusses being cast as Lilo.
The young star spoke about her connection with the main character, who she feels she has a lot of similarities with, including being “very crafty.” As for the audition process itself, Kealoha guessed that she probably read for Lilo & Stitch about 15 times. She cited her favorite part of the audition as the chemistry reads, where she got to read with other actors. Check out the full quotes from Kealoha below:
Interviewer: What was it about Lilo that made her someone that you wanted to play?
Kealoha: Well she was very fun, we’re both Hawaiian, she loves to dance hula, that was my favorite scenes. I have a lot of favorite scenes too. She’s very crafty.
Interviewer: And so are you?
Kealoha: Uh-huh. I’m very crafty. Every time my mom enters the room she’s like ‘what is these papers doing all over the place?’ I’m like ‘oh, I’m trying to pick em up, but there’s too much falling out of my hands.’
Interviewer: You and Lilo are a lot alike.
Kealoha: Uh-huh.
Interviewer: What will you always remember about when you had to go audition?
Kealoha: The chem reads. Chem reads. I love the chem reads.
Interviewer: So tell all of us what a chem read is.
Kealoha: When you act with someone and you like kind of get to meet someone too.
Interviewer: How many times did you have to go read?
Kealoha: I would say…fifteeeeen?
Interviewer: The last time were you like ‘listen, I’m going to get this part. This is going to be mine.’
Kealoha: Yeah that’s what I said at home. That’s what I said at home.
What This Means For Lilo & Stitch
Kealoha Has A Lot Of Personality
This video makes it pretty instantly clear how charismatic Kealoha is. She was not already a child star before this, so her personality would have had to carry her through auditions with Disney in order to land the role. Kealoha may be only 8 years old (and 7 during the film’s production), but the video shows her vibrant persona at even this young age. The Lilo & Stitch trailer showcased some of this expressiveness, so if the full film goes anything like that and this video, she will have been a great choice for the role.
Furthermore, Kealoha provides key background when she discusses her connection with the character of Lilo. With actors so young, it is helpful if they can find someone so young when portraying a character. Kealoha clearly has this connection, citing all of her and Lilo’s similar traits. One such trait is that they are “both Hawaiian,” as Kealoha states, serving as a reminder of the importance of authentic representation on screen.
Our Take On Maia Kealoha As Lilo
She Is A Promising Pick For Lilo
It is hard to find a great child star, especially if said actor has to end up carrying a lot of the film. That said, this video gives me even more confidence in the potential of Kealoha’s performance in Lilo & Stitch. Disney live-action trailers can tend to go off poorly in reception, but so far, the look at Lilo & Stitch seems better received than some. This is a good sign for the film as it prepares for its upcoming release on May 23.
Source: ET
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
- Director
-
Dean Fleischer Camp
- Writers
-
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright