Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Lilo & Stitch!
2025’sLilo & Stitchmakes a major change to one key character from the original film, creating a major issue with the introduction of another one of the franchise’s iconic characters. While the original 2002 animated film is the most iconic piece ofLilo & Stitchmedia, that is far from all that the franchise has to offer. Later films and TV shows introduce all kinds of new characters, stories, and experiments. However, thanks to a major change, it will be incredibly difficult for a sequel to thelive-actionLilo & Stitchremaketo introduce this one.
Disney’s live-actionLilo & Stitchremake is fairly faithful to the original film, and while there are some thematic differences, most of the broad story beats are there. The big exception has to do with the creator of Stitch, Jumba. In the original film, Jumba is a supporting antagonist,with him eventually going through a redemption arc and becoming part of Lilo’s family. In the live-action remake, however,Jumba is the main villain. He is never redeemed, with him staying evil until the very end. Unsurprisingly, this change has caused a lot of problems.
The Lilo & Stitch Remake Cuts Out Gantu As The Main Villain
This Creative Decision Has Been Met With Mixed Response From Audiences
Since Jumba is now the sole main antagonist of theLilo & Stitchremake, this means that the 2025 film cut out Gantu. Gantu is the main villain of the original animated film, with him traveling to Earth and attempting to catch Stitch after Jumba and Pleakley fail. When Jumba and Pleakley switch sides, they team up with Stitch to stop Gantu and save Lilo. Gantu returns as a supporting antagonist in many otherLilo & Stitchprojects,such asStitch! The Movie,Lilo & Stitch: The Series, andLeroy & Stitch.
The exclusion of Captain Gantu has been incredibly controversial, with manyLilo & Stitchfans pointing to it as one of the remake’s worst changes.Lilo & Stitchremake directorDean Fleischer Camp addressed why Gantu was cut, with him explaining that the character didn’t work well in live-action. Here are his full comments:
Gantu was one of those things that just didn’t work so well in live action. We explored it a bit, but ultimately we had to make the decision. And also I do stand by the decision ‘cause I feel like a lot of the things that in trying to ground these characters more and tell a story with a little more emotional depth, especially between the sisters, I feel like you have to free up real estate to allow that breathing room to do those things.
Obviously, a giant whale-like alien would be difficult and expensive to pull off in live-action. However, he is still an integral part of theLilo & Stitchfranchise, and the medium change forcing the director to cut Gantu only proves how unnecessary these Disney live-action remakes are.
Reuben Was A Frequent Henchman of Gantu In The Lilo & Stitch Series
Reuben Is Also A Fan Favorite Character
Cutting Gantu also hurts the introduction of anotherLilo & Stitchside character: Reuben. Reuben is another one of Jumba’s experiments, with him being labeled Experiment 625.Reuben was designed just before Stitch was perfected, with him being Jumba’s last failed experiment before 626’s birth. Reuben is nearly as powerful as Stitch, but he is incredibly lazy. He is known for making sandwiches and sarcastic comments, with him becoming a fan-favorite character.
Jumba sneaks Experiment 625’s pod to Earth, and after losing it, Gantu finds it. Gantu activates the experiment pod, giving birth to Reuben. Reuben becomes Gantu’s loyal sidekick, with him appearing nearly every time Gantu does. Reuben is one of the main characters inLilo & Stitch: The Seriesas well as the spin-off movies, so it would be weird not to introduce him in future projects.
Gantu’s Absence Complicates Reuben’s Introduction In The Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Franchise
There Is No Reuben Without Gantu
Since Gantu isn’t in the live-actionLilo & Stitchseries, Reuben probably won’t be either. While he was teased by Jumba in the remake, it would be difficult to actually make him part of the story. He doesn’t have Gantu to hang out with, andLilo and the gang wouldn’t have a reason to activate his experiment pod.
Unless futureLilo & Stitchprojects introduce Captain Gantu, there is only one way that Reuben can be introduced. Since Jumba took the role of Gantu in the remake, Reuben could become his sidekick in a sequel. It would make sense for Gantu to activate some old experiments in future attempts to catch Stitch, finally allowing Reuben to appear in the live-actionLilo & Stitchseries.
