After Finally Watching The Live-Action Lilo And Stitch, I’m Annoyed By How One Important Character Got Short-Changed

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I loved the original *Lilo & Stitch* when it came out in 2002, so I was curious to see how the recent live-action remake stacked up. I finally watched it on Disney+ last weekend after it finished playing in theaters. While it was okay, it wasn’t as good as the original – which is pretty common with these Disney remakes. My biggest issue was that they significantly reduced the role of Cobra Bubbles.

I was initially bummed to hear Gantu wouldn’t be in the live-action *Lilo & Stitch*, but after watching the movie, I didn’t miss him as much as I thought I would. Actually, I think the movie could have worked just fine without Cobra Bubbles too. It’s not that Courtney B. Vance did a bad job, but his character felt unnecessary because his role was changed for this new version of *Lilo & Stitch*.

Disney+ offers a streaming library including both versions of Lilo & Stitch and a vast collection of Walt Disney Pictures films. You can subscribe for as low as $9.99 per month with ads, or choose an ad-free plan for $15.99 monthly. Alternatively, save 16% by paying $159.99 upfront for a full year. See the deal here.

I wouldn’t have minded the changes to Cobra’s character so much if he’d actually had a more significant role. Unfortunately, he remains uninteresting. This version of the story makes it seem like he’s never encountered aliens before, which removes the intriguing ambiguity of his past. We never find out what motivated Cobra Bubbles to spend his life researching aliens, and that’s a missed opportunity to make him a more complex and relatable character.

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The most helpful thing he does in the movie is offer to watch Pleakley and Stitch, but this felt unnecessary – Lilo or Nani could have easily convinced the Grand Councilwoman themselves. While it was a fun moment seeing Cobra relax with Billy Magnussen’s alien on TV in the post-credits scene, this version of the character didn’t feel as strong or memorable as the original.

Disney has officially approved a sequel to *Lilo & Stitch*, and Dean Fleischer Camp-who directed the first film and voiced Stitch-is writing the script. I really hope he finds a more substantial role for the character Cobra Bubbles this time around, or perhaps doesn’t include him at all. Courtney B. Vance is a fantastic actor, and it would be a shame to see him underused in the role again. Hopefully, the sequel will give Agent Bubbles the attention he deserves, or they’ll consider a different direction.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the character Cobra Bubbles was portrayed in the live-action *Lilo & Stitch*! As for other Disney remakes, *Moana* is currently scheduled for release on July 10, 2026. Personally, though, I’m hoping Disney considers making live-action versions of *Atlantis: The Lost Empire* and *Treasure Planet* – those early 2000s films deserve some love too!

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2025-09-15 02:00