Some recent reports claim that there’s a show titled Cowboy Bebop and it will be released in 1997. What’s also been confirmed is that it’s 2019 and that piece of news is very old. However, what’s actually recent news is that Netflix is working on a live action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. The original series hit the airwaves in 1997 and has been considered a classic ever since.
There hasn’t been a ton of coverage regarding the new version of the show. However, what little information has been revealed is exciting. Check out the list to see everything we know about the live action Cowboy Bebop series!
John Cho as Spike Spiegal
We’ve heard an alternative title for the show is Spike and Jet Go To White Castle. There’s been a few casting rumors over the years about who would end up playing Spike in a live action Cowboy Bebop. There had been a point in the mid 2,000’s when Cowboy Bebop was going to be turned into a film. During that time Keaunu Reeves had been tapped to play Spike. In fact, Reeves ended up being attached to that project for several years.
But alas, we finally have our Spike in the form of none other than John Cho. This piece of casting is admittedly surprising. For one thing Cho is much older than the anime version of Spike. Cho tends to play more overtly comedic roles. Although Spike is known to be a smart aleck, his sense of humor is different from the other roles Cho has played in the past. However, movies like Star Trek and Searching prove that Cho has a wide acting range. Hopefully Cho will bring some of that range to Cowboy Bebop.
It’s a Series
No duh, right? Bear with us for a minute. It’s really important to note that this adaptation is a live action show, rather than a film. Cowboy Bebop has had a troubled production history for the last fifteen years or so. For the longest time it had seemed like the anime was going to be turned into a live action movie.
There’s been tons of rumors as to why that project didn’t work out. The prevailing theory is that budgetary restrains held back the movie. It’s a blessing in disguise that the film never saw the light of day. Cowboy Bebop is a series with deep characters and long lasting plot lines. A live action show will be able to correctly translate all of the nuances that make the original Cowboy Bebop so great.
Ten Episodes
There’s a rumor that Cowboy Bebop will consist of ten episodes with one episode coming out per year. So Jon Cho should roughly be ninety years old by the time the season is done. More seriously, the first season of the show will consist of ten episodes and will be ready to stream all at once. It hasn’t been confirmed if each episode will be thirty minutes or an hour. What also hasn’t been confirmed if this series will be a mini series or an ongoing series. We suppose the success of these ten episodes will determine Cowboy Bebop’s fate.
Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black
Who wouldn’t want to live in an anime? We’d all have names like Sky Blue, Jet Black…Gan Grene. Fan casting always suggested that Bruce Willis should play the character. However, it’s been officially announced that Luke Cage’s Mustafa Shakir will play Jet Black.
What will be interesting to see is whether or not Shakir can pull off Jet’s personality. The character is simultaneously tough and caring. Jet is like the stern dad of the entire Bebop crew. Luke Cage has already shown that Shakir has what it takes to pull off complex choreography. We really just want to see Jet use his robotic arm in a zero gravity kung-fu fight scene.
Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine
It can’t be easy being the only girl on the Bebop. That sentence probably sounded weird. “The Bebop” isn’t the name of the show, it’s the name of the spaceship in the show. Faye Valentine has a complicated backstory. The girl is born in 1994, but through a bunch of circumstances she ends up in a cryogenic sleep. Faye wakes up in the year 2071 (when the show takes place) and becomes a bounty hunter. Although Faye is the only girl on the ship, her wit stands shoulder to shoulder with her friends Spike and Jet.
Actress Daniella Pineda will play as Faye in Netflix’s adaptation of the series. Pineda isn’t exactly well known to general audiences, but she does already have a long list of credits. She had recurring roles in shows like The Originals and The Detour. Pineda’s biggest mainstream performance was in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The character Pineda plays in that film displays her comedic sensibilities. Faye has a lot of funny moments, so Pineda’s comedic timing should be a good fit for the character.
Alex Hassell as Vicious
How can someone be named Vicious and be anything other than a bad guy? This poor guy’s parents doomed him from birth. Vicious initially seems like a typical anime villain. Ultimately, Vicious reveals himself to be an incredibly three dimensional character. Spike and Vicious share a very personal backstory. The two men used to be apart of the same criminal organization until their romantic feelings towards a woman gets in the way of their friendship.
Alex Hassell is going to be Vicious in the Netflix adaptation. Hassell is definitely the most unknown actor out of the cast. His past roles include the movie Anonymous and the showGenius. If anything, the guy definitely has a villain’s face. What we mean is that Hassell has sharp and hunky features. It’s exciting that Hassell is an unknown actor. That means there’s no preconceived notions of how he should play Vicious.
Christopher L. Yost
Fun fact. Christopher L. Yost and his dad share the same last name. No one knows whether or not Yost will be Bebop’s showrunner. What’s certain is that Yost will write the pilot episode.
A really strong writer is essential to remaking Cowboy Bebop. The original series is anime’s equivalent to Citizen Kane in terms of its legacy. Thankfully Yost has an impressive list of writing credits. They include Thor: Ragnarok, Star Wars Rebels, and the upcoming Masters of the Universe film.
Shinichiro Watanabe
Has anyone ever seen a picture of Watanabe? He always looks like such a boss. The guy walks around like he’s Agent Smith in every public appearance he makes.Watanabe is a legend in the anime community. He’s the director of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy. Many people consider these to be some of the best shows of all time.
Watanabe is going to serve as a creative consultant on the live action Cowboy Bebop. This is great news for the anime’s loyal fanbase. If someone is attempting to adapt a piece of sacred text, it’s imperative to have one of the creators involved.
