Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Lilo & Sтιтch!

2025’s Lilo & Sтιтch makes 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 of Lilo & Sтιтch media, 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 the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake to introduce this one.

Disney’s live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake 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 Sтιтch, 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 & Sтιтch 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 the Lilo & Sтιтch remake, 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 Sтιтch after Jumba and Pleakley fail. When Jumba and Pleakley switch sides, they team up with Sтιтch to stop Gantu and save Lilo. Gantu returns as a supporting antagonist in many other Lilo & Sтιтch projects, such as Sтιтch! The Movie, Lilo & Sтιтch: The Series, and Leroy & Sтιтch.

The exclusion of Captain Gantu has been incredibly controversial, with many Lilo & Sтιтch fans pointing to it as one of the remake’s worst changes. Lilo & Sтιтch remake director Dean 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 the Lilo & Sтιтch franchise, 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 & Sтιтch Series

Reuben Is Also A Fan Favorite Character

Cutting Gantu also hurts the introduction of another Lilo & Sтιтch side character: Reuben. Reuben is another one of Jumba’s experiments, with him being labeled Experiment 625. Reuben was designed just before Sтιтch was perfected, with him being Jumba’s last failed experiment before 626’s birth. Reuben is nearly as powerful as Sтιтch, 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 in Lilo & Sтιтch: The Series as 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 & Sтιтch Franchise

There Is No Reuben Without Gantu

Since Gantu isn’t in the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch series, 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, and Lilo and the gang wouldn’t have a reason to activate his experiment pod.

Unless future Lilo & Sтιтch projects 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 Sтιтch, finally allowing Reuben to appear in the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch series.