Lilo & Stitch star Maia Kealoha will lead Disney’s Stolen Wishes

The 9-year-old who played Lilo in Disney’s $1 billion remake just landed her third live-action Disney lead. The writer-director made Disney’s “Prom” and “Upside-Down Magic.”

Lilo is getting a new job. Maia Kealoha, the breakout star of Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” will lead “Stolen Wishes,” a new live-action Disney movie, Deadline reported Tuesday.

Joe Nussbaum, the director behind Amazon’s “Just Add Magic,” will write and direct it for Disney Live Action. Allen Fischer of Artists First is producing, and Amalea Chininis is an executive producer, Deadline reported.

What is “Stolen Wishes” about? Nobody’s saying. Disney hasn’t released a synopsis, and Disney representatives declined to comment to Deadline, which broke the news citing sources. The movie is in early development.

Kealoha is 9. By Screen Rant’s count, this makes three live-action Disney movies with her as the lead: “Lilo & Stitch,” the upcoming “Lilo & Stitch 2” and now “Stolen Wishes.” Most of us were still working on long division at that age.

What is Stolen Wishes about?

That’s the big unknown. Deadline’s report didn’t include a plot, a cast beyond Kealoha or a production start date.

Here’s what is known so far:

• Star: Maia Kealoha, in the lead role

• Writer and director: Joe Nussbaum

• Producer: Allen Fischer, Artists First

• Executive producer: Amalea Chininis

• Studio: Disney Live Action

• Plot: Under wraps

• Release date: None yet

The title sounds like it could fit a fantasy, a heist or a holiday movie. Disney hasn’t said which, so we’ll wait before guessing too hard.

Will Stolen Wishes be in theaters or on Disney+?

Disney hasn’t said. None of the reports so far mention a theatrical date or a Disney+ premiere.

That question matters for families. The live-action “Lilo & Stitch” was first headed to Disney+ before Walt Disney Studios announced in August 2024 it would go “only to theaters.” It made $1.038 billion worldwide, Screen Rant noted. We told [that whole story here](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/when-lilo-and-stitch-2025-went-from).

Nussbaum’s resume leans toward TV and streaming. Kealoha’s first movie made a billion dollars in theaters.

Who is Joe Nussbaum?

Nussbaum has worked with Disney before. He directed the 2011 Disney movie “Prom” and the Disney Channel Original Movie “Upside-Down Magic,” WDW News Today reported.

He also directed episodes of Disney Channel’s “Gabby Duran and the Unsittables” and was an executive producer and director on Amazon’s “Just Add Magic,” Laughing Place and Screen Rant reported. His other credits include “Sydney White” and “Sleepover.”

In other words, he’s made a lot of TV and movies about kids discovering something magical is going on. That’s a decent fit for a title with “Wishes” in it.

When is Lilo & Stitch 2 coming out?

“Lilo & Stitch 2” opens in theaters May 26, 2028. Chris Sanders, who co-created the original animated movie and still voices Stitch, is writing and directing. Production began in October in Hawaii, WDW News Today reported, and Kealoha is back as Lilo.

We’ve been tracking the sequel for months, including [Angel officially joining Lilo & Stitch 2](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/angel-is-officially-joining-disneys) and [the rumor about a new character named Nellie](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/rumor-lilo-and-stitch-2-is-casting).

What else is Maia Kealoha in?

Her calendar is busier than most grown-up actors’.

• “Lilo & Scratch”: She voices Lilo in this new Disney short, which plays only in theaters before Disney’s “Hexed” starting Nov. 25. Lilo brings home a cat named Scratch, and chaos follows, ABC7 reported. The short mixes hand-drawn and CG animation. We covered [its announcement in June](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/disney-announced-a-new-hand-drawn).

• “The Wrecking Crew”: She appeared in the Prime Video action movie with Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, Laughing Place noted.

• “Nutmeg & Mistletoe”: She plays Alma, a girl whose letter to Santa brings two elves to her town, in an indie Christmas comedy that wrapped production in Los Angeles. In February, Maui Now reported it was set to open in theaters for Christmas 2026.

Kealoha is from Hawaii’s Big Island and landed Lilo through Disney’s open casting search.

Where can I watch the live-action Lilo & Stitch?

The 2025 “Lilo & Stitch” streams on Disney+. If you want a refresher before “Lilo & Scratch” hits theaters, that’s the place. The original 2002 animated movie and its sequels are on Disney+, too.

We’ll update when Disney shares a plot, more cast or a release plan for “Stolen Wishes.”

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Deadline (Nov. 10, 2026), the original report on Stolen Wishes, Kealoha, Joe Nussbaum and the producers

• WDW News Today (Nov. 10, 2026), Disney Live Action, Nussbaum’s Disney credits and Lilo & Stitch 2 production details

• Laughing Place (Nov. 10, 2026), early development, Disney declining to comment and Nussbaum’s background

• Screen Rant (Nov. 10, 2026), the producers, Kealoha’s age and the Lilo & Stitch box office total

• ABC7 (June 26, 2026), the Lilo & Scratch short and its Nov. 25 release with Hexed

• Maui Now (Feb. 15, 2026), Nutmeg & Mistletoe details

• ComicBookMovie.com (Aug. 10, 2024), Lilo & Stitch moving from Disney+ to theaters

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.