Creating a live-action film of anything, whether it be a beloved Disney cartoon or an anime with a cult following, can be risky. Fans get very attached to characters and styles and are not always open to changes that may need to be made in order to make the project happen. Or maybe that’s just me. I have to admit that I scrunched my nose when I heard that Netflix was turning the anime Cowboy Bebop into a live-action film. All I could think of was the mess that was Ghost in the Shell. Shudder. But, Netflix has surprised me and has actually made me smile with their release of the “Lost Session” teaser.
This video gave me some serious Tarantino mixed with Scott Pilgrim vibes. The teaser introduces the characters of Spike (John Cho), Jet (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye (Daniella Pineda) as they are out collecting bounties. There is plenty of fourth wall breaking as the scenes move between characters and the panels themselves are used in the fight scenes.
Since it does not have a clear storyline (but there is the hint of a backstory with the whisper of “I’m coming for you” in one scene), this “Lost Session” feels like more of a teaser. Hopefully we will learn more when Netflix releases an actual trailer.
If you are already familiar or unfamiliar with Cowboy Bebop, Netflix will be streaming it next week which will give you plenty of time to watch or re-watch before the live-action debut on November 19th.
In the meantime, here is the “Lost Session”:
COWBOY BEBOP is an action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, aka “cowboys,” all trying to outrun the past. As different as they are deadly, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals — for the right price. But they can only kick and quip their way out of so many scuffles before their pasts finally catch up with them.
What do you think? Are you as eager for this version of the space Western anime as I now am?
