Cowboy Bebop, “action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, aka ‘cowboys,’ all trying to outrun the past,” has a place among the legends of anime. That said, the upcoming Cowboy Bebop Live-Action adaption on Netflix is creating a lot of stir. Netflix has had a rocky relationship with adaptations, especially when it comes to anime series. Something as culturally impactful as Cowboy Bebop naturally raises the stakes a lot.
Cowboy Bebop Live Action is scheduled for release on Netflix in 2021! With only months to go for the live-action release, here’s all you need to know to make the most of this Live Action Release!
About Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is a legend. It is one of those milestones in anime that successfully established the anime stronghold in the world of entertainment. The 1998 anime is created by Sunrise animation and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe who is also known for Samurai Champloo and Space Dandy. Cowboy Bebop is a space western neo-noir with science fiction elements that went ahead to be yet another watershed moment in anime history.
The original anime series was only 26 episodes long. The plot revolved around a bounty hunter crew that traversed space in search of one job to do after another. Spike, Jet, Faye, Edward and Ein form the main crew on board the spaceship named Bebop and explore the galaxy while Spike also negotiates his nemesis, Vicious.
The anime is known for its themes of existentialism, capitalism, loneliness and perhaps a landmark in noir fiction. In a moment of genre reinvention, Cowboy Bebop also defines the extents of noir, comedy, sci-fi and westerns. The anime is considered the best of all times and is rated 8.77/10 on My Anime List.
Cowboy Bebop Trailer
With less than a month to go, Netflix has released a proper teaser trailer for the upcoming series Cowboy Bebop. One can see John Cho, Daniella Pineda and Mustafa Shakir in action. The trailer continues with the bloody action sequence visuals teased on 19th October.
Cowboy Bebop Live Action on Netflix
The Netflix adaptation will be introducing new elements to the Cowboy Bebop story while trying to not tamper with the established universe. The first look for the series has been released as a number of images that show the characters in action. From the looks of it, the casting of the show seems accurate and fitting from what fans would remember from the anime series.
Cowboy Bebop Live Action will be a collaboration between Netflix and Tomorrow Studios. Shinichiro Watanabe, the director of the original anime, is on board with the project. Yoko Kanno created the music score for the original Bebop and will be returning for the live-action. The news of their presence is also very reassuring for the fans.
Comic Books and Novel Release
According to updates from Gizmodo, Cowboy Bebop will be getting a short comic series along with the Netflix adaptation. Lamar Mathurin and Dan Watters (also known for Lucifer) will be working on the series and it will be published by Titan Comics. The comic series will have four issues and begin in December 2021 while shipping for the paperback edition will begin in May 2022.
The prequel novel for the adaptation will be released on November 23rd 2021. Additionally, a behind-the-scenes hardcover book will also be available in January 2022!
Cowboy Bebop Live Action Release Date
The Cowboy Bebop Live Action will hit Netflix on November 19th 2021! While episode count and thematic details are largely unknown right now, there are apparently talks of a second season already in motion. The official trailer for the show is also yet to be released!
Cowboy Bebop Live Action Cast
The cast members for the show that have been revealed until now include:
- John Cho as Spike Spiegel
- Mufasa Shakir as Jet Black
- Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine
- Alex Hassel as Vicious
- Elena Satine as Julia
Ed and Ein are yet to be made known. Somethings fans must remember, that John Cho has also said, is that the Netflix adaptation is not going to be a direct episode-by-episode remake. The anime series has its own legacy which adds a lot of expectations and in this case, a direct recreation of the show will not make sense. What comes out of the Netflix Series remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for updates about Cowboy Bebop and all the good stuff from your favourite titles. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the best Summer 2021 anime releases! Fingers crossed for the upcoming release!
