The 2025 live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch has stirred controversy among fans and critics alike, particularly due to significant alterations made to beloved characters and storylines from the original 2002 animated movie. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, this reimagining updated many plot elements to suit contemporary audiences, but one notable change—Cobra Bubbles’ new backstory—has drawn sharp criticism for weakening one of the movie’s most memorable jokes.
In the original Lilo & Stitch, Cobra Bubbles, voiced by Ving Rhames, was an intimidating social worker with a secret past as a former CIA agent who once collaborated with the extraterrestrial Grand Councilwoman. This layered identity was part of the film’s charm, blending humor with subtle commentary on government power. However, the 2025 remake recasts Cobra Bubbles as an active CIA agent undercover as a social worker to monitor Stitch, with Courtney B. Vance stepping into the role.
Dean Fleischer Camp explained to USA Today the rationale behind this shift: “In order to buy these two girls getting separated, you couldn’t really have the representative of that antagonistic force be a comically huge guy with tattoos on his knuckles, who for some reason is also a social worker.” While this rationale fits the live-action adaptation, it comes at the cost of diluting a classic comedic moment.
In the original movie, Lilo’s suspicious remark that Bubbles “doesn’t look like a social worker” was a tongue-in-cheek nod to his imposing presence and secret identity. The joke landed perfectly because Bubbles’ dual role was cleverly disguised. The 2025 version strips away this nuance, turning the line into a straightforward observation rather than humor, diminishing its impact.
Further complicating the narrative, the remake’s explanation that mosquitoes are endangered (a key plot twist in the original tied to Bubbles’ actions with the Galactic Federation) strains credibility and weakens the story’s coherence. Fans have expressed frustration over these changes, highlighting how they undermine the character’s depth and the original’s storytelling finesse.
On social media, reactions have been mixed but often critical. User @TheCartoonLoon remarked, “Cobra Bubbles not being a social worker in the live-action movie was such a bizarre choice,” while @HyzenthlayRose lamented, “The team behind the live-action Lilo & Stitch watched Cobra Bubbles in the original and said, ‘Complexity? What’s that?’” Another fan, @Stormandreas_, summed up the sentiment succinctly: “Bubbles isn’t even Bubbles now.”
Despite these criticisms, the remake did make some positive adjustments. Removing Bubbles as the social worker opened the door for Tia Carrere, the original voice of Nani, to play Mrs. Kekoa—a more sympathetic and realistic social worker who builds a genuine connection with Nani and Lilo. Still, many argue that Cobra Bubbles’ fluctuating motivations—at times hunting Stitch and at others protecting him—lack clarity, suggesting room for future sequels to resolve these inconsistencies.
Lilo & Stitch premiered on May 23, 2025, and continues to play in theaters, prompting ongoing discussions about the balance between honoring original film industry classics and reinventing stories for new generations.
