John Cho wants to see Cowboy Bebop season 2 get weirder and darker. The newly released Netflix show serves as a live-action adaptation of the classic Japanese anime series of the same name. The popularity of its source material, often recognized as a gateway series for anime as a whole, led to both excitement and skepticism ahead of the Cowboy Bebop reboot premiere date. Upon its debut, the series received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, who largely praised its cast but criticized its re-writing and handling of action scenes.
Cowboy Bebop tracks the adventures of a group of bounty hunters aboard the Bebop spaceship searching for criminals throughout the Solar System in the year of 2171. In addition to Cho, who plays Spike, the series stars Mustafa Shakir (Jet Black), Daniella Pineda (Faye Valentine), Elena Satine (Julia), and Alex Hassell (Vicious). The live-action remake also sees the return of Cowboy Bebop's original 1998 cast, who reprise their voice roles to dub the series in Japanese this time around. After the twist ending of season 1 left the Bebop crew's future in a state of uncertainty, the show's cast has been vocal about their hopes for more episodes, something the original anime series opted not to explore.
In an exclusive Screen Rant interview, Cho was asked about a potential Cowboy Bebop season 2, and explained that he wants to see the series take a "weirder" and "darker" approach. The actor notes that he likes the idea of the show doing something more unexpected with its story and adds that he would like to see his character find a "moment of happiness." Read Cho's full quote below:
Exclusive: "I hope to get weirder and darker. I always hope that for some reason. I also really want Spike to be happy. This season was rough for him. I did feel a lot of sympathy pangs for him. So I hope he has a moment of happiness. I predict that it will be a tough road, again. However, I guess the only thing I could say is really abstract, which is: If this season was verse, chorus, verse, chorus, I'd like to hit the middle eight and do a little something unusual and unexpected."
A Cowboy Bebop season 2 is likely for Netflix's new adaptation, as fans have been requesting to see more of it following its premiere. The Cowboy Bebop remake does change multiple aspects of the original anime, and many have cited that as the main point of contention between audiences. It presents a more stylized and flashy representation of the future, and features characters playing different roles, most notably in Julia's potential as an antagonist. Such changes resulted in disappointment among long-time fans of the original Cowboy Bebop anime.
Many assumed the remake would follow the same approach as its source material and be limited to season 1 only. However, from its very first episode, Cowboy Bebop establishes itself as something different, perhaps in an attempt at attracting new viewers unfamiliar with the classic anime. Cowboy Bebop season 2 could give the series an opportunity to please fans of the original while maintaining the new tone presented in its debut. A weirder and darker approach, as Cho mentioned, might be the ideal direction for it to head in. However, fans of both versions will have to wait and see where Cowboy Bebop decides to go when (or if) season 2 is confirmed.