IF Magazine reports that producer Erwin Stoff is developing a live-action movie for 20th Century Fox based on the popular space-Western/noir anime series Cowboy Bebop.
“I’m really excited to be working on it, and it’s in the really early stages,” said Stoff, who also produced A Scanner Darkly and Constantine. “We just signed it the other day.”
Fueled by a soundtrack of jazz and early rock, Cowboy Bebop aired for 26 episodes in 1998-1999. The show, set in 2071, followed bounty hunters who traveled aboard a ship called the Bebop. The series spawned a feature film, a manga series and two video games.
How will Cowboy Bebop’s devoted following react to news of the adaptation, and the inevitable speculation (and grumbling) about the casting of Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine & Co.?
“Flak about choices is meaningless until people see the movie,” Stoff told iF Magazine. “When people see the movie, then criticism has a place in it.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
The News keeps on coming.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hopefully they cast Man Faye in this.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I don’t think this is a great idea but hopefully it’s entertaining
Live-action Faye needs to be super duper hot
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Holy crap. I may need to change my..yup, need to change my pants. Thanks a LOT Kevin.
Seriously, my all time favorite Anime, and I couldn’t be more excited.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Here’s hoping the producers have half a brain and keep Yoko Kanno along for the soundtrack. Otherwise, it’s really not Cowboy Bebop.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Please, Eric Stoff. Please don’t cast Keanu Reeves as Spiegel. Please please please.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Yes. No Keanu please. I have high hopes for this. Do they make original premised material in Hollywood anymore? Lifted or “homaged” matter doesn’t count…
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
So criticism is only valid if you people see the movie and validate my vision, no matter how distorted, by paying cash for it. Yes, you can’t complain unless you let me be in the clear by funding the movie even if my last adaptation was less than faithful.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:44 am
“Do they make original premised material in Hollywood anymore?”
Hollywood has always been adaptation crazy. From the moment it started they were adapting stage plays, novels, and biblical epics.
Even comic books. There were Superman and Captain America movies within a couple years of the characters’ first comics. Hollywood has *always* looked for the built in audience.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I really don’t know how to feel about this… I want to be optimistic but the chances are looking slim… ;(