First Showing is reporting that Keanu “Whoah” Reeves is adding another straight-faced hero to his resume, playing intergalactic bounty hunter Spike Spiegel in the live-action adaption of anime cult-favorite, Cowboy Bebop.
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According to First Showing’s “inside source” at Fox studios, Cowboy Bebop has long been buried in the list of movies waiting to be green lit, with Reeves attached to the project for some time now. That bit of star-power, plus some early fan buzz, has motivated Fox to fast-track Cowboy Bebop for a 2010 release; though currently there is no director, writer, or script for the film.
For those who aren’t into anime, Cowboy Bebop follows the exploits of a team of bounty hunters, (”Cowboys” as their known,) who coast the cosmos aboard their spaceship, Bebop, tracking down the universe’s worst criminals and collecting the bounty on their heads. The plot thickens when the team’s strong but silent leader, Spike (Reeves) begins to run across his old buddies from a nefarious crime syndicate he used to belong to. The only thing standing in the gangsters’ way? Spike, and the crew of the Bebop.
If Reeves is attached, you can expect the scale of this flick to be big-budget epic. Warring spaceships and kung-fu throwdowns complete with gun fire. Nice. Between Cowboy Bebop, the upcoming Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li and the live-action Dragonball movie, it seems Hollywood is trying to cash in on the anime universe.
Are you psyched for a Cowboy Bebop movie? Or is anime not your thing? Let us know what you think.
Source: First Showing
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154 Comments
to that misery. don’t watch.
he is a man of deep passion that is why people watch him.
a stunning man a man of hidden wit.
I’ve seen the Cowboy Bebop anime movie, it is deffinetly excellent…
I used to be a huge fan of the show too,
and I don’t think a live movie is a good idea.
It’s kind of like when making a book into a movie…the movie never turns out as good as the book…
However, I’m probably just saying this because I was an actual fan of the show.
I’ve never really watched Dragon Ball Z therefor I’m pretty psyched for the live movie to come out.
I think jet has got to be bruce willis he’s one of the best actors in Hollywood (fifth element pulp fiction 12 monkeys sin city) and is old enough for the role
director should be ether Robert Rodriguez or the awesome terry Gilliam who would add a unexpected twist to the film
Faye could be uma Thurman
(think mia Wallace)
and ed could be Abigail breslin from little miss sunshine (I really cant think of any other child actors that aren’t awful)
I’m not sure who should play ein
As for Keanu there are worst actor out there he was good in a scanner darkly but that’s another role where he had to act confused
Don’t take this the wrong way, James, but I can’t agree with you less. Yea, Bruce Willis is totally bad a**, but he seems to have the wrong attitude to play someone like Jet.
Would it kill the casting crew to find some unknowns who are really good? I don’t think Ed should be played by someone as serious and accomplished as Abigail Breslin. Yeah, she’s cute, but she doesn’t have the look or the attitude!
Don’t even get me started on how wrong Uma Thurman is for Faye…
I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but Ed and Faye are NOT white. Ed’s tanned and from South America and Faye is Asian! She’s from Singapore. (I’m also convinced that Jet Black… is black!)
Faye should be Sheena, from America’s Next Top Model! She’s fierce! ^_~
I always figured if Spike was a real person, I would be crushing on him. He is smooth, laid back, witty, quick thinking, not to mention pretty hot for being animated. Spike is the total antonym of Keanu Reeves. Reeves is always sooo stiff, and just seems a little slow. I’m not saying it trying to be mean, it is just the way he comes across to me. His uuuuh speech patterns drive me a little nutty. I am a huge Bebop fan, but I am afraid of what they are going to do to this movie. I agree with the suggestion above that Ryan Reynolds would have been a better match.
he’s a babe & it doesn’t smatter what anybody ‘finks the studios like him ‘cos the public like him.
i love him.
Quote- His uuuuh speech patterns drive me a little nutty.
Quote- he’s a babe & it doesn’t smatter what anybody ‘finks the studios like him ‘cos the public like him. i love him.
The one comment following the other is just a little ironic. I guess there is someone for everyone.
Ryan Reynolds would have closer to the right attitude and personality. Where he would be ten times better then Keanu Reeves, I’m still not quite sure he would truly fit the part.
We just watched the extras on “The Tale of Despereaux”. I hadn’t realized how much Matthew Broderick had aged the last couple of years. He doesn’t look bad for it. Guys are lucky like that, but he is definitely a couple of generations past what Spike should be.
i cannot wait for this movie.
After now seeing Wolverine, I believe I agree about Ryan Reynolds. I didn’t think the guy from Waiting could nail a part like that, but he was convincing as Deadpool. I think he would have been a good Spike. Too bad it is too late to get him in there. I give most movies a chance, but I think I am going to hide in a dark cave and pretend this one doesn’t exist. I am too big of a Cowboy Bebop fan to let Keanu ruin the entire franchise for me. Next thing you know they are going to do something crazy and cast someone like George Clooney to play Batman…Yikes!
I have to agree. I think this is one of the rare occasions that I am going to pass on a new movie. When it comes out on DVD, curiosity may get the best of me, but I don’t really see that happening. I just think a stiff confused Spike would do me in. Spike isn’t like that even when he has a hangover…
Okay, here’s my opinion. See, I’ve been a fan of Cowboy Bebop for years. Actually, it’s the first anime I ever watched. Shinichiro Watanabe is a GENIOUS. Now, if they keep the music, and DON’T mangle the character’s appearances and attitudes like they did in the dragonball movie, it might be watchable.
Reading these comments, I have also come across people comparing the fight sequences between the Matrix and Cowboy Bebop. Some of the more seasoned Bebop fans know that Spike uses the martial art Jeet Kun Do, which is fluid and swift, whereas in the matrix, Reeves’ fighting style was robotic, forceful. Reeves will eventually get it, he’s a great actor, and he’s definitely met the standards for what it is to be an awesome actor. However, the kind of “cool” he had for The Matrix and the kind of “cool” needed for Cowboy Bebop are two entirely different entities, my friends. In the Matrix, again, Reeves was more robotic than anything, no reaction to danger except for to go up against it. With Spike Spiegel, the attitude is laid back, devil-may-care. Reeves is just too mechanical. Besides, he doesn’t even have the cool demeanor Spike has when smoking, drinking, walking SPEAKING, whatever. Spike is the definition of cool.
As to my suggestions for the other cast:
I don’t know which all characters that the movie makers plan on putting in there, but here are my thoughts.
Spike Spiegel – Keanu may look like him a bit, but he’s no Spike Spiegel. There’s gonna be no way to change this, unfortunately. I only hope that he doesn’t go robot on Spike’s role, for that would be hell. The only thing I can say is this:
http://www.freewebs.com/fatesmessenger/pictures/disappointment.jpg
Jet Black – Ron Perlman, hands down <3
Faye Valentine – While Ashley Scott does look like her a bit, I agree with some of the others, she needs to be Asian. Lucy Liu has the hair, they eyes, and the curves needed for Faye Valntine. Just dye it dark purle and voila!
Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky the 4th – That is a good question…I don’t know anybody young enough to play the quirky, crazy genious that is Ed. She’s a mystery to me ^_^”
Also like to note: If they put Vicious in the movie, it’s Tom Cruise. He’s got the icy stare down, and if they just give him sivler hair and a script, he’s Vicious. Julia…is a good question, but I’d actually say that the best choice would be Julia Roberts. She’s got the sexy for it, and if you google her – she’s the perfect Julia when you see the pics with the blond hair.
If only the original American Voice actors could just sub over and the actors mouth it! Then Keanu may make it in my books. I will go to see this movie, regardless, but I hope that it meets even a fraction of the standards needed to make it similar to Cowboy Bebop.
@Hoshigaki_Kaena:
I agree with you one hundred percent! (Except maybe for the Julia Roberts thing.) Everything you said is dead-on! Keanu Reeves, while trained in martial arts, is a robot. Spike is most definitely not a robot.
Asian Faye FTW!
You’re in my cool book, Hoshigaki!
all i know is i had afternoon tea with bruce lee, keanu reeves & tom cruise & tom failed kea tried & i was supreme.
but for me now i’m gonna get fat happy & married.
suppose i better find a man, does he breathe? is it that important, nah.
SHOWTIME!
SUPER-AWESOME-ONE-HUNDRED-PARSENTO!
I’m sure everyone hears, and has, bad opinions of Keanu Reeves acting-Slash-personality(and not the other way round), but Keanu Reeves is someone i’ve noticed can be easily laughed at when watching his movies, so i think that would definitely HELP him fit into the role. Like The Matrix, his over the top-ness is funny, and if anyone here remembers Parenthood(slappin’ the salami…whoah), if he can pull off something halfway between the two and throw in a couple cartons of cigarettes, then there’s your Spike.
My major gripe is this, they said there’s no Director/Writer when the movie was first rumored, where’s the Watanabe on this?!? If he had any say in it, i bet there’s only one thing he’d say about Keanu Reeves acting Spike.
HIS AFRO’S TOO SMALL!!
oh yeah, btw, regarding Neo’s martial-arts, if you take the literal translation of (*i’m going to learn*):
“Juu-Jitsu”(haha, i love that line!),
then you’d at least have the ‘thought’ that it’s a fluid martial art(unlike something like karate), which it is, which he doesn’t perform well, but i’d put that down to the choreographers or something. i mean, you can’t ‘learn’ a martial art for a movie, and you can’t ‘act’ natural movement when it comes to any martial art.
Bottom line is, we all know we’re going to see it, so it doesn’t matter if we like it. Pay your admission with no expectations, and you may walk out entertained.
I’ve got you now! SPACE BUTLAH!!
or yeah………….
just leave CB alone.
they’ve already made a mockery of my favourite old-school cartoons/videogames(Transformers,TMNT/FinalFantasy, i know there’s more, too many to remember).
Hands-off Hollywood. Just cause you can’t think up any original ideas doesn’t mean you gotta steal gems from a previous era.
Long live sequels Holywood, Yeah! (considering how awesome Rocky, Terminator 3, and all those other films you butchered are, time to find a new job)
Keanu Reeves is a joke of an actor, I really doubt someone like him could pull off Spike’s amazing personality. If anyone, I would have Robert Downey Jr or Johnny Depp give it a try – two great character actors.
there’s no reason for this movie to be made, no fan of cowboy bebop was asking for one. this is just hollywood trying to cash in on and rape one the most innovative and masterfully written animes ever. and casting keanu reeves as spike is like asking a five year old to replace the mona lisa on some construction paper. there’s no need for this movie to be made…the series is perfect as is.
look moomba the muslim with no surgery & added boyfriend can only be the best.
hollywood never really get’s it, isn’t that right batface?
Why not use someone who actually watches the anime to write an article about it? I stopped reading when they said “intergalactic”.
Morena Baccarin = Faye
Jeff Bridges = Jet
Adorable Welsh Corgi = Ein
My all time favorite anime show is announed to be a live-action movie. I think Reeves is a good actor to play Spkie, but the only thing I can care about is who’s the right person to direct this movie.
I LOVE COWBOY BEBOP!!!
I’m a little dubious about Keanu Reeves playing the part of Spike. That said, I’m VERY dubious about a Hollywood live action remake of Cowboy Bebop. If done properly, by christ, It’ll be amazing. But this is Hollywood after all, and they’re not exactly known for doing a good, respectable job when it comes to remakes. The fact that Cowboy Bebop is quite a heavily atmospheric series only worsens my doubt.
If you guys pull it off properly, then you will have my utmost respect and gratitude. If you do not, I will use the jagged edges of the shattered DVD as toilet paper.
My biggest fear about this movie is that Fox is going to screw up the story like they did with the X-Men franchise
are you kidding. i only trust fox. i like the murdochs. i’d trust the murdochs with majerks.
i loved ex-men.
this is going to be a great movie if it’s done by fox. lucky kea i wish i was in it.
its cool,totaly radical
I love cowboy beobop ……….who could be VICIOUS, and very good movie – nice spike = keanu.
I’ve loved Cowboy Bebop for too long for them to bugger this up…………..PLEEEAAASE dont get this wrong!
I think that there’s a chance that Keanu might be able to pull it off. Though frankly, the producers should listen to the fans for a change. Whenever video game developers do good stuff happens. The film industry should try it every once and a while.
I’m not a big keanu reeves fan, but i think he would be great for the part. I hope they really do make this movie, it really is one of the better anime’s, and a good story line. looking forward to it.
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