We’re officially getting closer to seeing an iconic space crew in action. According to a recentInstagram postfrom starDaniella Pineda, Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the classic 1998 anime seriesCowboy Bebophas finished filming on Season 1. Pineda, who will portray the mysterious gambler Faye Valentine, posted the update along with a look at her new haircut for the show.
This update comes after radio silence from the cast and crew regarding the series. Much like a bounty mission the Bebop crew usually end up taking, the road to developing the adaptation has been interesting. The series was announced in 2017 as a collaboration between producerMarty Adelstein, ITV Studios, and original series studio Sunrise Inc. A year later,the project was picked up by Netflix. The series' castingwas announced in April 2019.
However, October 2019 saw the project grind to a halt when lead actorJohn Choseverely injured his knee during a scene. The show was projected to be delayed between seven to nine months, the majority of those months conveniently being taken up by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the projectresumed filming this past Septemberin New Zealand.
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Cho, who recently lent his voice to the Oscar-nominated animated filmOver The Moon, stars inCowboy Bebopas the wisecracking bounty hunter Spike Spiegel. Joining him on the crew alongside Pineda isMustafa Shakir, who Marvel fans might recognize from his turn in Luke Cage as Bushmaster. He will portray Spike’s foil and former investigator turned hunter Jet Black. Providing a villainous edge isAlex Hassellas the power-hungry Red Dragon Crime Syndicate member Vicious. Cho’s Spike will also encounter a former lover named Julia, played byAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’sElena Satine. The supporting cast also includesRachel Houseas a Mafia head named Mao andGeoff Stultsas Black’s ex-partner Detective Chalmers.
One notable omission from the live-action cast is the character Ed, voiced byMelissa Fahnin the English dub of the series. Fans have speculated when the free-spirited hacker will appear, whether it is the recently-wrapped first season or a theoretical second season.
While there has been some fan hesitation about the live-action adaptation, we hope that the show hits that perfect medium between being faithful to the iconic anime and using new ideas to keep the story fresh.
Cowboy Bebopis currently expected to hit Netflix at the end of 2021. Check out Pineda’s Instagram post below.
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