Netflix anime-related efforts continue as the streaming giant has just unveiled exclusive first look images for itsCowboy Bebopadaptation. The new photos feature Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Jet Black, and the cute Welsh corgi that will be playing Ein.
To this day,Cowboy Bebopremains one of themost accomplished and recognized anime from the ’90s, especially within the sci-fi genre. The series followed the adventures of a group of space bounty hunters and borrowed western themes from the perspective of Japanese anime writing. ConsideringCowboy Bebop’svast legacy, it wasn’t too surprising that Netflix picked up the series for a 10-episode live-action adaptation that’s scheduled to premiere in November 2021.
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A tweet posted by @NetflixGeeked showcased just how much work has gone into transforming Hajime Yatate and Shinichiro Watanabe’s masterpiece from its original anime art style to a darker real-life scenario that certainlydoes look likeCowboy Bebop. The pictured cast members are John Cho (Spike Spiegel), Mustafa Shakir (Jet Black), and Daniela Pineda (Faye Valentine), with these photos going as far as recreating specific shots and moments from the anime.
The costume department seems to have gone to great lengths to transform Faye Valentine and Jet Black’s respective outfits, though Spike’s blue double-breasted suit and light yellow shirt are practically a carbon copy of his animated look. There are at least a couple of missing characters here, mainly the main antagonist Vicious (Alex Hassell) and Spike’s former lover Julia (Elena Satine), although androgynous super-coder Ed is confirmed to show up in the series too.
Considering past anime to live-action adaptations such asGhost in the Shelland Netflix’s ownDeath Notehave bombed so badly,Cowboy Bebopwill have a lot to make up for. So far,Cowboy Bebopseems to be doing things right in one way or another as Netflix has brought back the series’ original composer Yoko Kanno, whose song “Tank!” is widely considered to be one of the greatest anime openings of all time, so much so that fans ofThe MandalorianandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecan’t resist the urgeto use it.
This early glimpse at the kind of aesthetics the producing team is going after should ensure that live-action Vicious doesn’t end uplooking like aFinal Fantasy 7Sephiroth cosplay. Whether the script and the rest of the show will be able to live up to the original 26Cowboy Bebopepisodes is an entirely different ordeal.
Cowboy Bebopwill be exclusively available on Netflix starting July 30, 2025.
