Chris Sanders Returns for Lilo & Stitch 2, Animation News & Comic-Con Highlights

Lilo & Stitch 2 and Chris Sanders' Return

• 🎬 Chris Sanders is returning to write the screenplay for the live-action Lilo & Stitch 2, following the billion-dollar success of the first film.
• ✍️ Sanders brings fresh ideas from his original "Pitch to Stitch" concept for the sequel.
• ⏳ The team aims to make the movie soon to avoid the child actors aging out, similar to issues faced with the TV show "Lost."
• 🌟 While Sanders previously voiced Stitch and worked on expansions, this marks his first time writing a screenplay for a Stitch-related project.

"Magic of Disney Animation" Revival

• ✨ Disney's Hollywood Studios is reimagining the former Star Wars Launch Bay into the "Magic of Disney Animation."
• 🖼️ The attraction will celebrate hand-drawn classics and feature tributes to films like Mulan and Brother Bear.
• 🏛️ The physical plant is returning to its 1989 iteration, with elements like the original theater and the "fishbowl" area.
• 🎨 The aesthetic will echo the Roy E. Disney Feature Animation building in Burbank, celebrating the three feature films made in Florida.
• 🗓️ The attraction is slated for a 2026 opening, though a slide to early 2027 is possible due to landscaping.

San Diego Comic-Con Highlights

• 🎤 Drew Taylor and Jim Hill discuss various activations and panels from San Diego Comic-Con.
• 🐾 Highlights include activations for Lilo & Stitch, featuring a giant inflatable Stitch and photo opportunities.
• 🦖 A panel on "Godzilla at 70" featured guests like the co-director of Shin Godzilla and a visual effects supervisor from Monarch Legacy of Monsters.
• 🐢 Other mentions include activations for King of the Hill and a Ninja Turtles Godzilla crossover.

Box Office Report and Animation Updates

• 📊 Fantastic Four: First Steps opened strong with $118 million domestic and $218 million worldwide.
• 💥 Superman has grossed $289 million domestic and over half a billion worldwide, with discussions on its overseas performance.
• 🦖 Jurassic World: Rebirth continues to perform well internationally, crossing $700 million globally.
• 📅 Coyote vs. Acme has a confirmed release date of August 28, 2026, with positive reactions to early trailer footage.
• 🎅 Margie Claus, directed by Kirk Demarco and Shane Prigmore, is set for a November 2027 release.
• 🗓️ Bad Guys 2 is set to premiere on August 1st, with King of the Hill returning for its 14th season on Hulu on August 4th.

Other Animation and Entertainment News

• 📺 South Park secured a $1.5 billion deal for five more seasons on Paramount Plus, with the season 27 premiere receiving widespread acclaim.
• 🎶 K-pop Demon Hunters hit an all-time viewership high in its fifth week on Netflix, with speculation on its continued success.
• ⚔️ The sequel series Avatar: Seven Havens to Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra has a first image released, with 26 episodes ordered.
• 🎙️ The podcast "Light the Fuse" has concluded after nearly 300 episodes, with hosts Drew Taylor and Charles Hood moving on to new projects.