The live-action remake of the classic 1990s anime Cowboy Bebop has arrived on Netflix.
We’ve gathered 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 did Cowboy Bebop premiere?
Netflix first announced Cowboy Bebop back in 2018, but since then there have been multiple delays. Fortunately, the wait is over, and all ten episodes of the first season dropped on Netflix on 19 November.
Is there a trailer for the live-action Cowboy Bebop series?
We now have a full trailer for Cowboy Bebop. Fans of the original show will notice some key differences with both characters and the story. Take a look:
The first teaser trailer for Cowboy Bebop is an introduction to our main characters. Take a look:
You can check out 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 the intro for the show here:
What’s the plot of Cowboy Bebop?
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 woman 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 Ed and the genetically modified ‘data dog’ Ein. Together they complete bounties, avoid the authorities, and help Spike track down Vicious, a Syndicate figure from his past.
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. Here’s the line-up:
- 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
So far, we’ve seen no confirmation of Radical Ed, leading to speculation that the role might have been cut from the show. However, when asked about the absence of Ed, showrunner André Nemec confirmed to Polygon that “people will be… very delighted when they watch the season.”
So, expect Radical Ed to show up in some form – and likely partway through the season.
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 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. You can sign up on the Netflix website, with prices starting from £5.99/$8.99 per month.
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Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.