When Stitch returns to theaters this weekend in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, the little blue guy isn't just going to look like he did back in 2002. He's also going to sound the same too. That's because Disney and the filmmakers behind the live-action redo recruited one of the original's writers and

For the most part, the new version sticks pretty closely to the 2002 animated film. The story centers on two sisters, Lilo and Nani, who are navigating life after the death of their parents. Nani, a teenager just about to head to college, struggles to hold down a job and watch out for her sister, who is a bit chaotic.

Maia Kealoha, 8, makes her debut in the live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch." She tells USA TODAY about auditioning for the role and what's next.

The live-action remake of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” hits theaters on Friday with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 72% among all critics, but lower marks among the website’s Top Critics. Many reviewers are celebrating the film’s dedication to its emotional core.