Jumba Joins the Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Remake: Casting, Plot Hints & Release Date

Disney’s upcoming live-action “Lilo & Stitch” is generating fresh buzz this week as new details about Dr. Jumba Jookiba—the mad scientist who created Stitch—surface online. Studio insiders confirm that comedian Zach Galifianakis will portray Jumba in the 2025 remake, set to hit theaters on May 23. Galifianakis joins newcomer Maia Kealoha (Lilo), Sydney Agudong (Nani), Billy Magnussen (Pleakley) and Chris Sanders, who returns to voice Stitch, creating a blend of new talent and franchise veterans that Disney hopes will resonate with both nostalgic fans and first-time viewers. The biggest talking point, however, is a narrative shake-up: director Dean Fleischer Camp revealed that Jumba, not Captain Gantu, will serve as the film’s primary antagonist. The change, he says, tightens the story by focusing on the “father-and-son” dynamic between Jumba and his genetic experiment, Stitch, allowing their conflict to unfold more personally on screen. Fans of the 2002 animated hit remember Jumba’s arc shifting from villain to reluctant ally; the remake will amplify that inner struggle. Early footage screened for Disney shareholders reportedly shows Galifianakis balancing slapstick humor with genuine pathos as Jumba questions the chaos he unleashed on Earth. Beyond character tweaks, producers are emphasizing authentic Hawaiian representation. Principal photography wrapped on location in Kaua‘i, with cultural advisers overseeing costume design and dialogue to maintain the islands’ voice. The film’s soundtrack is also expected to weave in ʻukulele-driven arrangements alongside Elvis Presley classics, honoring the original’s musical identity while giving Jumba a newly composed leitmotif. Search traffic for “Jumba Lilo and Stitch” surged after last week’s cast photo drop, and analysts note that curiosity around Galifianakis’ CGI-assisted transformation could rival the pre-release buzz that surrounded Will Smith’s Genie in “Aladdin.” Merchandise teasers—ranging from glow-in-the-dark “Experiment 626” plushies to a lab-coat-wearing Jumba Funko Pop—have already appeared on retailer preorder lists, signaling Disney’s confidence in the character’s marketing appeal. With plot revelations, casting confirmations and viral behind-the-scenes clips now circulating across social platforms, all signs point to Dr. Jumba Jookiba taking center stage in Disney’s next live-action blockbuster—proving that even a four-eyed alien scientist can steal the spotlight in paradise.