What We Know About The Upcoming Netflix Live-Action Adaptation of Cowboy Bebop: Cast, Plot & Additional Details

On November 27, 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to stream the upcoming live-action adaptation of the late-1990s sci-fi space/Western anime series Cowboy Bebop.  

Since production resumed on September 30, 2020, the internet has been abuzz with anticipation of the beloved '90s anime series. Here is what we know about the show so far. 

What is "Cowboy Bebop" About? 

Cowboy Bebop is set in a futuristic world where a hyperspace gateway accident rendered Earth uninhabitable, leading humankind to inhabit far reaches of the galaxy.    

The series centers around an eclectic band of bounty hunters aboard the spaceship, Bebop, all with troubled past and uncertain futures, as they scrape by on petty bounties, all the while trying to find meaning in their lives.

The merry band of bounty hunters also called "Cowboys", include Spike Spiegel, an ex-hitman; Jet Black, a former ISSP officer; Faye Valentine, a con-woman; Edward "Radical Ed" Wong, a computer whiz; and Ein, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.     

Who Are Announced In The Cast? 

On April 4, 2019, Variety became the first to report the actors who would be making up the main cast of Cowboy Bebop.

John Cho will portray Spike Spiegel, the main protagonist of the show, a former mafia hitman who resolves to leave the life of crime after falling in love with Julia, the girlfriend of his friend and business partner, Vicious. He is presumed dead and begins anew as a bounty hunter with his closest acquaintance, Jet Black.  

Mustafa Shakir will portray Jet Black, co-pilot of the Bebop and the closest acquaintance of Spike Spiegel. A former police officer, he now commandeers the Bebop. 

Daniella Pineda will portray Faye Valentine, an amnesiac con-woman. She was placed in cryogenic sleep after a near-fatal accident and her memory wiped. She awakens after a decades-long slumber with no recollection of who she was and picks up conning people as a craft. 

Alex Hassell will portray Vicious, the main antagonist of the series. The former partner and friend of Spike, they were competitors for the affections of Vicious's girlfriend, Julia, leading to a violent falling out.   

Elena Satine will portray Julia, a woman caught between Spike and Vicious 

On November 19, 2020, another batch of confirmed cast members was announced. They include Geoff Stults, Mason Alexander Park, Tamara Tunie, Ann Truong, Rachel House, and Hoa Xuande.  

Additional Production Details

While the series will be a faithful adaptation of the original anime series, there are several notable deviations from the anime. 

For one, the Netflix adaptation will be around one hour long as opposed to the around-20-minutes long anime series. 

The Netflix series will also reportedly drop the story of a bounty-chase-per-episode premise of the anime in favor of a  more centralized story focusing on the main cast.

Production of the show was halted in October 2019 due to John Cho's knee injury and further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 30, 2020, production has resumed.     

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