Comments on: Keanu Reeves Confirmed As Spike Spiegel In Cowboy Bebop

By: JonFromSeattle

JonFromSeattle — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:23:22 +0000

This is just outright horrifying to see come true. Keanu was great for The Matrix, but for my Anime live-action I would have either preferred an Asian Actor or someone else who remotely looks like and sounds like the actual character, and someone who can actually act with emotion. Ranbir Kapoor might be able to pull off the look, but he doesn’t sound anything like Spike and Ranbir has “no” Martial Arts Training. Chalk this up to a utter fail and put in the trash bin with Dragon Ball.

By: bellgrande

bellgrande — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:57:20 +0000

I don't think the producers thought this through. was there not a casting call for this…please dont get me wrong Keanu Reeves is cool but I don't know how to feel about this. My friends and I have come up with a really good actor in Bollywood named Ranbir Kapoor. He would be awesome in the role.

By: Showbizs

Showbizs — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:12:59 +0000

I don't think it will be as bad as ppl are thinking… We'll have to just wait and watch.

By: Showbizs

Showbizs — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:12:59 +0000

I don't think it will be as bad as ppl are thinking… We'll have to just wait and watch.

By: Things that would portray Spike Spiegel better than Keanu Reeves could ever possibly hope « Hollywood Hates Me

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:01:18 +0000

[...] what could portray Spike Spiegel better than Keanu Reeves could ever possibly hope? Let’s find out! (Note: not all things on this list are animate [...]

By: FRED

FRED — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:39:00 +0000

The two people for Jet Black should be either Michael Chicklis or Ron Pearlman.Sure Ron Pearlman is easily a supreme fit for the part, but Michael can also be cast as he has he ability to stick to the character really well and at the same time show some fatherly instinct-Jet was almost like a father to everyone even though he was a friend in that he was always right and confronted his past much more successfuly than Spike did for himself.Jet also shows all the dimensions of a father, such as the “tough love” father in his interactions to Faye and a very lineant, care-free father, almost like a father who is a friend in his interactions to Spike.Its just that I though that Michael played Ben better in F4(what a bad movie) that Ron played Hell Boy in Hell Boy one and two.

Also, they should just cast Steve Blum, his voice in the anime made the english version of the dub look epic awesomeness, and all other versions of the Dub look epic crap(except for the french one as Spike did sound extremely bad ass, like
a-head-shot-was-coming-any-second-to-a-bounty-target badass).In the anime the voice of Steve Blum pretty much defines his character more than the actions-of course the actions and attitude was very important, but the voice helped this along as well. From the first word I know that spike as epic badass.

Now I am just kidding about the casting call to make Steve Blum play Spike, but seriously, Reeves should work with Steve to nail the voice, cause Steve’s voice played a big role in creating part of that vintage Cowboy Bebop atmosphere that seperates Cowboy Bebop from all other shows , which will be hard to do in live action with other element, so you need the voice to set the mood. If Reeves cannot get the voice right, then just dub over Reeves original voice with Steve Blum’s voice in the live action film, cause lets face it, Reeves is never going to be bad ass no matter how hard he tries, and the voice of Spike-particularly the attitude, tone and pitch is extremely important in setting the pace and setting for what you are going to get out of Spike.

His voice matches his actions as well. Like when Spike is all laid back and could not care less about anything, his voice sounds very chilled out and care-free. But when he busts out into action and winning a fight , his voice is one of confidence. When he is in a crucial chase, his voice reflects his stress levels.

I know that voice is not the biggest hing when it comes to movies, but Cowboy Bebop is different, almost everything sets it apart from other shows.

And they better do some fan service and open with the Tank by the Seatbelts-epic opening.

Does anyone thing that Reeves is more suited to playing Jin from Samurai Champloo rather than Spike, cause I certainly do. Reeves should push for a Champloo film as he would still be working with the same genius behind Cowboy Bebop and also have a perfect part in Jin(pronouned Jean)-a ****ing Plank-Face,just like Reeves himself,lol.He even has the height to play Jin.

Champloo rant aside, just comparing the picture of both Spike and Reeves trying to be spike just shows that Reeves does not trancend that aura that Spike has. Spike looks confident and not a fear in the world of dieing, where as Reeves looks tense in his shoulders, lacks confidence from his facial expressions and an extreme lack of badass.

Where the **** is the cigarette and the afro ?

Spike having the volumous hair is meant to personify and dipict confidence and a very carefree nature. The cigarette is obiviously to show how layed back he is.

On a final note, if Reeves initiated this, then he better follow thorough, cause is Cowboy Bebop does not have an epic , close-to-source-material Spike Spiegel, then the movie does not exist. The ep started out with Spike and ended with him, so pay homage to a prevalant character within anime by sticking as close as possible to what Spike Speigel is all about FOX and company.

By: millz

millz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:21:10 +0000

ADAM LAMBERG. he may be too young though, but he’d be a good Spike.

THATS RIGHT. I SAID IT. GORDO.

By: Takeru999

Takeru999 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:55:06 +0000

GO KEANU!! I believe in you bro! I think Keanu might be able to pull it off. Actually I’ve always pictured Keanu playing Spike since Spike is how I would imagine Keanu Reeves would look like as an Anime character. The long legs and whatnot and also the face. And like someone said here.. not all the Live Action anime films are bad. I liked Deathnote and Prince of Tennis. People just have different tastes. That’s all. But yes though. The absolute worse of the Live Adaptation has got to be Dragonball.. 0/10 rating for me. No stars. I left after a few minutes of the movie at the theatres. Can’t believe I wasted my money on that garbage. As for this one.. I think they could pull it off.. as long as they stay true to the storyline and whatnot.

By: Xtian

Xtian — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:01:45 +0000

Come on people, give the project a fair chance, you could bad talk the movie after you’ve seen it. Beside, not all things end bad though anything related to it has been that way.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:17:08 +0000

Why not? Fox did such a respectful, faithful job with Dragonball. They seem very much concerned with staying true to the source material and not at all milking a cash cow till it bleeds. I also look forward to the amazing, rushed, inevitable video game adaptation by Atari or Bandai.

Seriously though,

God what an awful casting choice!

First Constantine (a character inspired by musician, Sting)

Now, another character full of life and emotion played by a wooden, listless actor who, frankly, has played the same role for the last decade and a half. what the hell happened to Ted “Theodore” Logan?
I enjoy watching Keanu, when the role is good for him. (i.e. The Matrix)
The Day the Earth Stood still was perfect. An emotionless, robotic alien? Perfect role for Reeves.
Spike Spiegel? Screw you Hollywood. Screw you harder Fox.

By: Shinobi

Shinobi — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:13:34 +0000

Well, the Fact that Sunrise and original creators will have a Hand in it Gives me GREAT HOPE and I have faith in Keanu~! He has the look, and he is an ACTOR don’t throw him out just yet, this has some potential, and not ALL Anime to Live action are bad,
Death Note’s Live action was awesome, I Liked Higurashi Live action, in Japan Many manga/anime Have Live action Drama or Movie adaptations~ and most of them are good…kinda (It’s arguable) as long as they stay as CLOSE TO SORCE MATERIAL AS POSSIBLE for plot/story and good Director and Actors this movie has some SERIOUS potential, I remember when Dark knight was first being talked about and people wear PISSED OFF that Broke Back Mountain Heath Ledger was going to be Joker in a Re-make. IT WAS AWESOME~! HAVE FAITH!!! This could turn out good!, ( then again.. FOX and Anime just doesn’t really mix well ~_~; ) BUT I HAVE FAITH!!

By: Ikari

Ikari — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:06:03 +0000

All I know and love is now officially dead.
Well, that’s not true. The live-action Evangelion movie is indefinitely on hold. But they’ll destroy that, too… :`(

By: Kristin

Kristin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:12:35 +0000

I do not see how this is going to do well at all, Reeves as Spike??? come ON

this is going to ruin anything for the fans of the series….

By: Jaberry

Jaberry — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:55:18 +0000

I think this could be a good movie, as long as fox doesnt screw it up and ruin the whole story like the upcoming Dragon Ball movie.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:39:19 +0000

I don’t care about casting, as I don’t think this movie should be made at all. It doesn’t seem like something they could do to be true to the anime. But hopefully I’m wrong.

By: viny

viny — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:30:37 +0000

I think Keanu has the face, and in terms of portraying a character from pre-existing source material, I think he may pull it off. What’s important is the rest of the cast and of course the story. If they can get those two right, and fox doesn’t interfere too much we may be on to a winner.

By: Farradin

Farradin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:13:03 +0000

One point in their favour. The fact that they are willing to pay for such a well known star and get original source material talent gives me hope that they are going to be putting both money and effort into this film. Given a good director this may actually be good.

A year of and half of low profit margins and bad buzz may have taught Fox to stop Fuxing; up film especially where there is such rich and beloved source material involved.

I also secretly have faith that Keanu reeves will come good and start acting one of these days instead of using his inexplicable yet apparent charisma. SATR (sorry about the rant).

By: greenknight333

greenknight333 — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:31:25 +0000

I thought they already made this movie 15 years ago with Keanu and it was called Johnny Mnemonic (1995)..

By: steven the git

steven the git — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:02:12 +0000

Yeah I’m willing to bet no smoking in this one.

Not happy about Keanue as Spike. Spike is laidback and droll, not expressionless.
Maybe other aspects will be better though. Lot depends on who directs.

By: jon x_x

jon x_x — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:56:19 +0000

I am still extremely skeptical and honestly, upset, that Keanu Reeves is playing Spike. I still stand by that John Cusack or some unknown should play him.

However, I am a little bit relieved to hear that Watanabe and a bunch of staff from Sunrise are involved. I hope that they aren’t just tied on for money and actually have heavy involvement/input in the film. I also hope they get some big director that Reeves can’t push around on the set. Someone with style and ability to direct sure would be nice. Soderberg? Besson? Maybe even Tarantino, though I’m not as sure about that one. Just as long as it’s not someone like Michael Bay, Paul W.S. Anderson, or Uwe Boll. Also, hopefully with his financier on board they won’t buddy together and call all the shots. Casting the other positions is obviously crucial too.

It seems they are really trying to screw me over with my favorite adaptations lately as far as casting goes, what with this AND Scott Pilgrim. Oh well. The other has Edgar Wright attached so it could have hope, though I honestly wish they had just done 2-D animation a la Persepolis for it. Shinichiro, we’re counting on you!! =D