The classic 1990s anime Cowboy Bebop is being given a live-action remake by Netflix.
We gather up all that’s known so far about the new version to see how Spike, Jet, Faye and the rest of the crew of the Bebop will look when the show arrives. 3…2…1…Let’s jam!
When is the release date for the live-action Cowboy Bebop TV show?
Netflix first announced Cowboy Bebop back in 2018, but since then there have been multiple delays. Fortunately, there’s not much longer left to wait. Cowboy Bebop will debut on 19 November 2021.
You can take a look at the first images of the show below:
Whatever happens, happens.
Meet Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) in Cowboy Bebop, premiering November 19, only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/nmapVDUZvJ
— Cowboy Bebop (@bebopnetflix)
August 23, 2021
There’s also now a look at the intro for the show:
What is the plot of the Cowboy Bebop live-action TV show?
The official Netflix page for the TV show has this description: “Based on the worldwide phenomenon from Sunrise Inc., Cowboy Bebop is the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and Radical Ed: a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll even save the world…for the right price.”
The anime is set in the future, when Earth has become uninhabitable and humans have spread out across the solar system. The show centres on Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, a couple of bounty hunters (or Cowboys as they’re called) aboard the Bebop spaceship (hence the title).
Spike is an ex-assassin for the criminal organisation Red Dragon Syndicate but is now in exile and haunted by the loss of the women he loved, Julia, who was killed by the Syndicate. Jet was a member of the Inter-Solar System Police but left after growing disheartened by the corruption he found there. Now, they both hunt down criminals for money, which is always in short supply.
As they travel around the system, they are joined by another bounty hunter and now petty criminal Faye Valentine, plus hacking prodigy Radical Eddie and the genetically modified ‘data dog’ Ein. Together they complete bounties, avoid the authorities, and help Spike track down Vicious, the woman who murdered his lover.
Who are the cast and crew of the Cowboy Bebop live-action TV show?
Cowboy Bebop has a fine cast, with great actors in the major roles. So far, we’ve seen no confirmation of Radical Ed, leading to speculation that the role might have been cut from the show.
- John Cho – Spike Spiegel
- Mustafa Shakir – Jet Black
- Daniella Pineda – Faye Valentine
- Elena Satine – Julia
- Alex Hassell – Vicious
- Blessing Mokgohloa – Santiago
- Geoff Stults – Chalmers
- Rachel House – Mao
- Molly Moriarty – Kimmie Black
Directing duties are split between Alex Garcia Lopez (The Witcher, The Punisher, Daredevil) and Michael Katleman (The Fix, Zoo, Life on Mars), with each taking five episodes of the ten that make up the first season.
Christopher Yost (Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: The Dark World) has written the first episode, with anime veteran Hajime Yatate (Mobile Suit Gundam, The Girl Who Leapt Through Space, Cowboy Bebop) who created the show in the first place is down for writing the majority of the series.
Netflix also recently confirmed that composer Yoko Kanno would also be creating the soundtrack for the show. She was the one responsible for the original theme song Tank! which still rates as one of the coolest of all time.
Where can I watch Cowboy Bebop?
As this is a Netflix original series, you’ll need a subscription to the streaming service to enjoy the show when it arrives later this year.
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