When actress Tia Carrere arrived at the KTLA 5 News studios for her interview on Tuesday morning, she didn’t expect to see a blast from the past. She ran into “Severance” star Adam Scott, who had just wrapped up his interview moments before.
Fun fact: the actor credits Carrere for his first gig in show business.
“This is crazy! I can’t believe you made it happen,” she exclaimed to Scott “Movie” Mantz. “This is where we actually get to meet in person again. Adam Scott has been doing all his press for ‘Severance,’ saying that his first job was on a Tia Carrere music video. Oh, my God, I’m dying!”
She said she’s currently looking for the video as proof.
In the meantime, the actress has had quite the summer. She starred in one of the biggest movies of the year, the live-action version of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch.”
Right before the film’s release in May, she stopped by the KTLA 5 Morning News to talk about the film. Since then, the movie has smashed all kinds of records. In July, it crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, which made it “the first Motion Picture Association (MPA) title of 2025 to reach the milestone.”
Carrere credits the film’s “legacy” to its success.
“The animated feature, 23 years ago. So you have a generation of kids that are now grown-ups, that have kids, that want to take their kids on this journey. And, live-action just captures the imagination in a completely different way. So it keeps all of the things that we had in the original and makes it brand new and of the time now,” she explained. “So it’s really incredible to see Stitch like he’s among us, like he’s the CGI, and it makes him look like he’s really here, and I think that captures a kid’s imagination.”
Over the summer, the actress appeared at San Diego Comic Con and was taken aback by fans’ reactions to the film.
“People went bananas for it. I mean, thousands of people. They’re dressed up like Stitch and Lilo and it was incredible getting to share it and see it in live action, up close and personal.”
She also pointed out how important representation was in the movie.
“Kids that look like me were going, ‘Wow. I can be in the movies.’ So it’s just a good thing for the business to have a big movie like this and to have it starring people from Hawaii front and center. That’s where I was born and raised. So I love sharing it.”
Carrere noted that the film is only just the beginning for lead Maia Kealoha.
“She’s a little movie star! She’s definitely wise beyond her years.”
While bursting at the seams with love for the film, she couldn’t hide her excitement for the highly anticipated sequel.
“I can’t wait to see Part 2,” she sheepishly said. “You know that I can’t share anything about it. They’re going to throw me into the volcano that’s currently erupting.”
Starring in the live-action film is a full-circle moment for the “Wayne’s World” actress. In the 2002 animated film, she voiced the character of Nani, Lilo’s older sister. In the 2025 film, she stars as a social worker, Mrs. Kekoa.
“I was in there, Jason Scott Lee was in there, Amy Hill was in there. Now, to be in this film also was magic, and it’s a great little Easter egg for the people who saw the film 23 years ago. It’s great to be invited again,” she said. “So I’m so happy that Chris Sanders, who originally created the animated feature with Dean DeBlois, who did ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’ So these guys are at the top of their game.”
Disney announced the film was in development in June, however, a release date has not been announced.
Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” is now on digital and will begin streaming on Disney+ on Sept. 3.