Netflix Sets Premier Date for Live-Action ‘Cowboy Bebop’

Credit: Unsplash

Netflix also released the first screenshots of the live-action cast.

1998’s Cowboy Bebop is to this day one of the most beloved anime ever created. Its super-stylish tone, cast of lovable rogues, and occasional emotional gut punch has permanently cemented it within the collective unconscious of the anime-viewing public. With this incredible ubiquity, it’s not especially surprising that Netflix would attempt to give it the live-action treatment, even if the initial announcement of that treatment was met with concern and skepticism.

While we still obviously can’t say whether or not a live-action Cowboy Bebop is a good idea, we at least know when we’ll find out. Netflix announced today that the first season of the live-action Cowboy Bebop series will release on their platform on November 19, 2021. Alongside the premier date, Netflix released the first screenshot’s of the series cast in-character.

Freewheeling bounty hunter and leader of the starship Bebop Spike Spiegel will be played by John Cho. Spike’s partner and veteran hunter Jet Black will be played by Mustafa Shakir. On and off ally and antagonist Faye Valentine will be portrayed by Daniella Pineda. The released screenshots even showed the three joined by super-intelligent Welsh Corgi Ein, though the name of the dog playing him wasn’t disclosed. The only member of the main cast we’re still missing is the wacky young hacker, Edward. Besides the main cast, there will be appearances by Alex Hassell as Spike’s arch-enemy, Viscous, as well as Geoff Stults, Tamara Tunie, Mason Alexander Park, Rachel House, Ann Truong and Hoa Xuande.

The series was originally supposed to air much earlier, but various delays caused it to be pushed out many months, not the least of which being an on-set injury sustained by Cho. If you’re concerned about the quality of the show, you’ll be relieved to know that the director of the original anime, Shinichirō Watanabe, was brought on as a consultant. The original composer, Yoko Kanno, also returned to create the soundtrack.

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