While the general audience seems to be in love with Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, the one point of contention from those who enjoyed the film is the absence of Captain Gantu.
Gantu is one of several adversaries in the original Lilo & Stitch animated pic but he's definitely the most menacing, and his presence adds additional tension to Stitch's attempts to evade capture.
However, Gantu is nowhere to be found in the remake.
Speaking on the decision to CinemaBlend, director Dean Fleischer Camp stated, "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."
After Dr. Jumba Jookiba and Agent Pleakley's initial, comically inept attempts to recapture Experiment 626 (Stitch), the stern leader of the United Galactic Federation turned to her imposing second-in-command to get the job done right. Gantu's no-nonsense demeanor and tireless hunt provided much of the animated classic's central tension.
However, the upcoming live-action remake is taking a different approach. Instead of Gantu's stoic menace, the new film will reportedly center solely on the comedic misadventures of Jumba and Pleakley as they try to wrangle Stitch for the Grand Councilwoman. This shift in focus promises a lighter, more slapstick tone for the chase narrative.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch opened wide across North America on May 23, 2025. Early projections for its opening weekend gross are looking incredibly promising, with an estimated $180 million domestic gross and an additional $105 million internationally.
These figures must be music to Disney's ears, given the remake's relatively modest production budget of just $100 million and the fact that the studio is coming off a huge flop in Snow White.
Lilo & Stitch (2025) Official Synopsis: This is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker behind the animated feature film “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” the film stars Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis.