Kahiau Machado has been replaced by Kaipo Dudoit (My Partner) as David in Disney’s 2024 live-action reboot of the classic animated movie Lilo & Stitch, with controversial social posts from the previously announced actor being discovered online during Disney’s vetting process.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Machado’s sudden replacement with the news confirming that social posts including racial slurs had been discovered via the actor’s social media accounts such as Spotify and Facebook, with the usage of the N-word in more than one public social post online being found. Fans seem to be taking the news well on Dudoit now taking on the role of David in the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, with an uprise of positive feedback that the new actor seems to look far more similar to the original animated version of the character than the previously announced actor did.
The Lilo & Stitch recasting news came only after a week or so after the announcement that Machado had been cast as David in the live-action reboot of the franchise, with Disney most likely making sure they have everything safely prepared for filming, which has begun according to recent set images of Lilo & Stitch that emerged online just last week.
The currently confirmed cast for the live-action take on the 2002 animated movie includes newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Sydney Agudong as Lilo’s sister Nani, Chris Sanders who is in final talks to return as the voice of Stitch as of writing this article, Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles, Billy Magnussen as Pleakley, Zach Galifianakis as Jumba, with Kaipo Dudiot now playing David and Tia Carrere who originally voiced Nani now playing the newly created Mrs. Kekoa character.
Lilo & Stitch is expected to release sometime in 2024 on Disney+