Why Disney Replaced Gantu With A Popular Character In Lilo & Stitch Remake – Director Explains!
In their own ways, Jumba and Pleakley are pursuing different objectives, but their main mission of capturing Stitch before he wreaks havoc on Hawaii makes sense. Much of the drama arises due to this storyline colliding with Nani’s struggle to convince authorities that she is a capable guardian for Lilo. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fleischer Camp explained why Cobra Bubbles and social worker Mrs. Kekoa were separated because the latter more accurately portrayed the critical nature of the situation. The decision to remove Gantu was also made to enhance the emotional intensity, as seen in this quote from EW:
“Fleischer Camp commented on splitting up Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) and social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere) because the latter better represents ‘those stakes in a credible way.’ Wanting to foster the emotional stakes is also why Gantu was cut.