When Disney reimagines an animated classic, fans always brace for a mix of excitement and controversy. The same was true for Lilo & Stitch, one of the most beloved and quirky titles in Disney’s early 2000s lineup. Now that the live-action version has officially hit theaters, audiences are discovering just how different this reimagining really is.
Related: After a String of Mediocre Live-Action Remakes, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ is About to Be Huge For Disney
Starring a mischievous alien, an independent little girl, and a heartfelt message about family, the original 2002 film charmed its way into the hearts of Disney fans everywhere. With Stitch’s offbeat humor, Lilo’s emotional depth, and the beautiful Hawaiian setting, it was only a matter of time before the movie got the live-action treatment.
But even before the film’s release, there were whispers online. Fans noticed early promotional materials seemed to be missing a familiar face. Then, days ahead of its theatrical debut, the news was confirmed: Captain Gantu would not be appearing in the live-action remake.
That decision caused immediate uproar online. Many were surprised to see such a central figure from the original storyline removed entirely. Gantu, a towering intergalactic enforcer, played a major role in the animated version. So what happened?
Related: Disney Plans Expansion for ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Franchise With New Projects
Now, director Dean Fleischer Camp is offering clarity. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he explained the reasoning behind the change and how it factored into the storytelling style he was aiming for.
“Something that live-action films do by virtue of taking place in reality is that they are already more grounded,” Fleischer Camp tells Entertainment Weekly. “If you have a story like Lilo & Stitch that does actually have this pretty terrestrial drama between the sisters and staying together, you can actually do them a greater service in a live-action movie. You can make those relationships deeper, hopefully more emotionally resonant.”
“To create real estate for all that emotional stuff and the deepening that we did, you have to get rid of stuff. And so Gantu was a casualty of that, but one that I felt pretty confident about from a storytelling perspective.”
Related: VIDEO: Stitch Brings the Mayhem to Disney’s Live-Action Promotion
For many fans, that explanation still came as a surprise. Especially considering Lilo & Stitch has already taken heat for altering or omitting other elements from the original film. One notable example was the reveal that the character Pleakley would no longer dress in drag to blend in with humans—an iconic and comedic moment from the 2002 version. According to Fleischer Camp, the scene was storyboarded, but they ultimately couldn’t make it work for this format.
And Gantu’s exit wasn’t the only big change. His absence helped make way for a new character—Ms. Kekoa, a social worker portrayed by Tia Carrere, who originally voiced Nani in the animated film. The move also came with a shift in the role of Cobra Bubbles, who is now a CIA agent rather than a social worker.
Related: Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Trailer Is Blowing Up the Internet—And Fans Have Thoughts
Fleischer Camp and his team said they wanted a more realistic take and felt the shift better served the grounded tone of the movie.
“You end up thinking about how it is a very different experience to see an actual 6-year-old girl potentially being threatened with being torn from her caregiver sister after grieving the loss of their parents,” Fleischer Camp says. “That is a very different kind of responsibility from a filmmaking perspective than what you can get away with in an animated film.”
Even with the changes, Lilo & Stitch is drawing major crowds. The film opened just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and early projections suggest it could pull in close to $200 million—a huge win for a release date that has traditionally struggled at the box office.
Between the altered scenes, the emotional depth, and the reimagined characters, Lilo & Stitch is clearly carving out a unique identity for itself in Disney’s growing list of live-action projects. Whether fans embrace it long-term may depend on how much they value nostalgia versus reinvention.
What do you think—was cutting Gantu a smart move for a more grounded story, or did Disney lose a crucial part of what made the original special? Let us know in the comments!
