The director explains why this iconic character was cut from the live-action Lilo & Stitch

The Lilo & Stitch live-action remake has finally landed in cinemas. It’s emotional, chaotic, and full of heart, pretty much everything people were hoping for. Stitch is still the blue menace we love, Lilo is still weird in the best way, and yes, the Ohana vibes are strong. But one iconic character was cut from the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch.

If you loved the original 2002 film, you might’ve noticed something… or someone… missing. Captain Gantu is not in the new Lilo & Stitch live-action remake. And director Dean Fleischer Camp has explained exactly why.

So, where is Captain Gantu?

via Disney

In the original 2002 Lilo & Stitch film, Captain Gantu was the big, towering alien working for the Galactic Federation. He was basically Stitch’s main enemy, chasing him across Earth like an alien version of the Men in Black. But he is gone in the new version.

“We explored it a bit, but ultimately we had to make the decision,” Camp told Cinema Blend. “Gantu was one of those things that just didn’t work so well in live action.”

Basically, the giant alien energy just didn’t vibe with the more grounded version of the story they were going for. Fair.

But why leave him out?

Camp explained that they needed to “free up real estate” to make more room for the emotional stuff, mainly between Lilo and Nani.

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“I do stand by the decision,” he said. “When you’re trying to ground the characters more and tell a story with emotional depth, especially the bond between the sisters, you have to give those moments room to breathe.”

And honestly, that part of the film really works. The relationship between Lilo and Nani is still the heart of everything, and it probably hits even harder in this version.

Apparently it wasn’t an easy choice

via Disney

Camp also spoke about how hard it was to leave anything out from the original, which he calls his favourite Disney film. “You have to let go and kill your darlings,” he said. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work out for one reason or another.”

But he’s proud of what did make it into the film. “I think the main things we were focused on, we got. I’m proud we nailed it,” he added. “The design of Stitch, his personality, bringing back some of the original Ohana, like Chris Sanders and Tia Carrere, and working with people from the original animation team… all of that was super important.”

So while Gantu might be missing, the film still keeps that same Lilo & Stitch spirit, just with a little less alien chaos.

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