Maia Kealoha, a Big Island girl, has been cast as Lilo in Disney’s planned “Lilo & Stitch” live-action film, inspired by the animated set-in-Hawaii series.
Knight Edge Media was the first to disclose the news about Maia, with few details except the she has appeared in many Little Miss Kona Coffee pageants via Instagram.
Little is known about Kealoha for now; where she attends school, who her parents are. She has no acting experience, but is plenty cute. Details will be revealed, once Disney rolls out a PR campaign on its newest discovery.
Though the movie was scheduled to begin to start filming in February, it apparently has been delayed.
Further, buzz that Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in Disney’s “Moana” animated hit, likely won’t be able to participate in “Lilo & Stitch” as Nani, the older sister of Lilo, because of commitments to “Mean Girls the Musical: The Movie.” If that production is completed befzackore the start of “L&S,” she still could join the cast.
Maia Kealoha, left,
and Zack Galifianakis, right.
Earlier, it has been announced that Zack Galifianakis will play the alien Peakley.
Lilo is a lonely Hawaiian girl, who adores hula and the music of Elvis Presley, who builds a bonding friendship with Stitch, a blue dog-like alien who potentially has destructive powers. No word yet on who might play or voice Stitch, should it be a CGI-generated character.
Dean Fleischer Camp will direct. He was an Academy Awards nominee for his “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.”
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, son of Clarke and Lynell Bright and grandson of Ronald and Mo Bright, scripted the new film, from an earlier draft by Mike Van Waes. So Bright brings a behind-the-screen Hawaiian element to the project.
Lilo and Stitch, the little lonely girl, and her alien pal, in their animated days.
Disney has had remarkable success with “L&S” and sequels included TV-centric projects over the years and continued to invest in Polynesian projects like 2016’s “Moana,” which also featured the voice of Dwayne Johnson, who appeared as Maui.
The studio has made unknowns like Cravalho to become certified stars, so Kealoha could be a candidate for such fame, considering the enormous popularity of “L&S.” And it has been converting, successfully, animated films in live-action feature films.
Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce for Rideback, with Ryan Halprin executive-producing for the company.
No date yet on when “L&S” will be released. …
Clublicity
Jake Shimabukuro, right, and his ukulele will be at Blue Note Hawaii at 6:30 and 9 p.m. April 2. Tickets: $75, $85, at https://www.bluenotejazz.com/hawaii/shows/ or (808) 777-4990.
Streetlight Cadence will return to The Republik at 7 p.m. April 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. Keilana and MTO will be guest performers. Tickets are $28.50, plus a $7.74 fee. Information: (808) 941-7469 …
Paula Fuga also will be at The Republik at 8 p.m. April 21. Trishnalei will also appear, along with DJ Keala Kennelly. Tickets: $35, $45 on day of appearance. Information: (808) 941-7469 …
And that’s Show Biz…