Oh, Blitznak! Disney enthusiasts are in an uproar over the omission of a pivotal character from the iconic "Lilo & Stitch" film in its recent live-action remake. Captain Gantu, the memorable antagonist from the 2002 animated classic, conspicuously vanished from the big screen when the new version premiered on Friday, May 23rd.
"Gantu was one of those elements that simply didn't translate well into live-action," Camp, 41, revealed to Cinema Blend prior to the remake's release last week. "We dabbled with it to some extent, but ultimately, we had to make a call. And I fully stand by that decision," he continued. "When striving to ground these characters further and impart a tale with greater emotional depth, particularly between the sisters, one must sacrifice certain aspects to accommodate that narrative breathing room."
However, not all fans of the cherished franchise were persuaded by Camp's rationale, prompting many to vent their frustration on social media towards Disney and their latest live-action endeavor.
"How does it make sense that you managed to bring Stitch and the other aliens from the animated version to life, maintaining their designs, yet excluded Captain Gantu?" one inquisitive fan demanded on X. "I think he would've looked amazing in live-action."
Another critic tweeted, "Didn't work well in live-action? You created an entire fleet of aliens and featured Stitch as the main character amidst real people. No excuses!"
A third added, "He only needed about five minutes of screen time. This is just budget bs."
Conversely, some viewers came to the defense of the remake and Captain Gantu's exclusion.
"Watched the movie last night. The absence of Gantu didn't detract from the story or plot in the slightest," penned one avid "Lilo & Stitch" fan. "Jumba's character arc was slightly altered, which makes sense. I thoroughly enjoyed the flick."
"The movie was fantastic," echoed another. "If you wanted an exact replica of the cartoon, stay home and pop in your DVD."
This isn't the first time fans have expressed outrage over significant deviations from the original "Lilo & Stitch" film in its live-action adaptation. Earlier this month, during a TikTok Q&A with fans, Camp disclosed that Pleakley, another key antagonist, would not be donning a dress and wig disguise to chase Stitch in Hawaii, as seen in the 2002 version.
Instead, Pleakley and his partner, Dr. Jumba Jookiba, are disguised as male tourists in the remake.
"I've received messages asking, 'Why isn't Pleakley wearing a dress?'" Camp conceded. "And I just want to say, I tried… I really tried."
The decision to axe Captain Gantu from the new "Lilo & Stitch" film follows Disney's encounter with similar backlash for alterations between the original "Snow White" and its March live-action remake.
Rather than casting actors to portray the seven dwarfs, Disney opted for CGI. The film subsequently bombed at the box office.
Released over Memorial Day weekend, "Lilo & Stitch" stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Chris Sanders as Stitch, Sydney Agudong as Nani, Billy Magnussen as Pleakley, and Zach Galifianakis as Jumba.
