Keanu Reeves is still attached to the live-action Cowboy Bebop movie, and it's actually further along than "sometime." It turns out that Reeves and crew has a plot planned out and everything, although it's not exactly the plot of the anime (certainly you weren't expecting a faithful adaptation, were you?). MTV reports:
The flick is currently being put together by Erwin Stoff, a producer who has spent the last two decades working almost exclusively on Reeves projects, and recently set the film up at 20th Century Fox. "We've got the rights, we've got a writer," Keanu explained. "He's putting together a scene outline."
Reeves revealed that this outline for the flick is currently focusing on the origins of the fictional "Bebop" drug developed by the military, which provides its users with a brief surge of superhuman reflexes and awareness. "We're taking the Red Eye [story], the beginning part of the series," he explained, "and then we'll deal with the end of the series. We're trying to figure out [the time frame]. We're looking at the story right now."
Since the beloved 26-episode show (as well as the feature film) didn't necessarily maintain a linear style of storytelling, Reeves said that somewhere between the Red Eye origins and the "Bebop" conclusion, they'll be picking out various highlights for their own use.
"Yeah, it's so episodic and so disconnected. We're trying to figure out what pieces to put together to tell one story," he explained. "Because it's such a short form, to make a 2 hour version [will be tough]. And it's got so much of an origin-story obligation; you've got to get people up to speed, but you don't want to do much of that. There are a lot of things to take into consideration, but we think we can do something good."
Actually, it doesn't sound too bad, except the increased role of the "Bloody Eye" drug, and the fact that the drug seems to now be called "bebop," an utterly needless and erroneous way to justify the series' title. But overall, in terms of anime movies happening, I still feel this is more likely to happen than DiCaprio's Akira adaptation. I know Akira has a script already, but I just see Bebop as an easier sell to studios.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention my otaku pals over at AnimeVice are freaking out about the possibility of Keanu Reeves playing Spike Spiegel. when I first head the news, I didn't mind, and I still don't. Reeves is best at playing iditos (Bill & Ted, the first half of the first Matrix), silent badasses (Speed, the second half of The Matrix), or aliens. Anything that doesn't requite him to do a lot of speaking or acting. While Spike has a pretty sly sense of humor that Reeves would probably just miss altogether, he's generally pretty detached, and I think there are a lot worse folks who could play him. Anyone want to violently disagree?
24 comments
Comments
Arsenal said:
what why do you need to justify the name of the show/movie
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy- Slang term for bountyhunter the whole crew is that
Bebop- the name of the ship they are on
So it makes sense to start with.
Snoodle said:
I love Bebop...and while the name change is kinda stupid I gotta say this sounds alright so far, seem to know what they're doing with the pacing and all that. I just don't want Faye ending up cast with some bitchy girl-of-the-moment star...
Not a bad resemblance on Reeves/Spike either.
Hamiton said:
I remember when nerd movies used to be about new nerd things. People liked these new things. It was awesome. There is an army of sci-fi half slathering and ready to slip their collars to get their utterly derivative work made into a movie, but they just keep remaking that same things over, and over, and over again.
S Parker said:
A great way of improving its appeal to fans of the anime would be to open discussion with Yoko Kanno about the soundtrack.
SavesTheDay said:
I just hope they pick a good enough actor to play Ed. It be more challenging to cast the role of Ed than any other character. I hope they know that she's a girl.
Alder Knight said:
Keanu Reeves is clearly a man intent on ruining my life.
Fuck you, Mister Anderson. Fuck you.
Alder Knight said:
...Although I'm pretty sure that when they say, "the fictional 'Bebop' drug," they mean, the fictional drug, from [Cowboy] Bebop, not that Bebop is the name of the drug. Just sayin'.
JXN said:
Yeah, what Alder Knight said. Sloppy writing on the part of the reporter. I can't imagine that the movie makers would make the critical mistake of calling "Red Eye" "Bebop" when; A)the name is clearly painted one ship and B) the crew call the ship "Bebop" on many occasions.
Kris said:
Also, "Bebops" referred to the people who left Earth to colonize other planets originally. I don't think it was said in the show, it's part of the text that appears in the background of the credits.
OnanRulz said:
I don't really mind this, although I think he'd be a better Vicious.
Arcane said:
He would make a dead-on Vicious, just give him that Harlock scar and a pale wig.
I think we need Zach Oat in the role of Jet, for the burns alone if he'd be willing to grow out the beard. Like every geek film, Stephen Chow needs to be involved in some way, and won't, much to our outrage.
McTool said:
I demand the Cowboy Bebop movie focus around Faye and her life and completely ignore the over-arcing Spike and Vicious plotline.
Faye must be played by Megan Fox.
Beany McPickles said:
I could actually see Matthew Fox play Spike. He's got similar sharp features to Keanu, and I bet he could grow a messy fro. Not to mention his voice sounds a lot more like the English voice actor. Keanu would make a pretty sweet Vicious. He's got the whole dead-eyed thing going on, and certainly not because he's trying.
And isn't Faye from Singapore? Why not get a girl from Singapore?
Arcane said:
Boo on Megan Fox, she is really overplayed.
Good call with Matthew Fox
GalvaTRION said:
The cast as it should be-
Spike: Joseph Gordon Levitt (watch Brick and The Lookout before you respond to this)
Vicious: Luke Goss
Jet: Clancy Brown? Ron Perlman? Laurence Fishburne?
Faye: Selma Blair or Carla Gugino
Julia: Jessica Beil
Ed: Shouldn't be in it if they're condensing the entire series into a single movie.
Music: Michael Giacchino
Director: Joe Carnahan
Budget: 150 million smackers.
Casting will be:
Spike: keanu Reaves
Jet: That guy from Prison Break that was in Blade III
Vicious: Joe Pantoliano, maybe John Travolta if he's slumming.
Faye Valentine: Jessica Alba
Ed: Dakota Fanning
Julia: kirsten Dunst
Music by: Steve Jablonski
Directed by: Ronny Yu
Budget: 90 million smackers.
James Strocel said:
Out of the entire series, they pick the red eye episode? Color me dismayed.
wodenaz said:
Keanu Reeves definitely has the voice to do Vicious. More importantly he may not have to talk much. Let's wait for the other shoe to drop.
Cyn said:
I can see Keanu as Vicious. That's it- like you said, the subtle humor of Spike would be lost on him. He's a niche actor, in that there's only certain roles he can play because he can't actually act well.
Matthew Fox is an interesting choice for Spike- he's a bit old, but I can kind of see it in the face.
As for the story, I think they have enough with the whole Vicious/Julia/Red Dragon Syndicate storyline without getting Red Eye involved. I guess they could do something with Gren since that ties in, but I'd hate to see Cowboy Bebop boiled down to nothing more than a love triangle/two dudes swordfighting and shooting at each other to the death in two hours. Because it's so much more.
mia said:
nothing would make me cry more in my life than keanu reeves as spike speigle. NOTHING.
varrior said:
I'm fucking horrified right now. I think I'm going to cry.
Kira said:
Hmm... I wonder what Japanese fans of Cowboy Bebop think of these developments.
And yes, Keanu as Spike is disappointing. Not only is he a bad actor, he's also an asshole. I saw an interview with him recently by a nice Japanese woman from the show Little Charo. He was patronizing and rude.
Maglor said:
Man, If keanu Reeves were to be Spike Spiegel, he wouldn't die saying "bang.", he'd die crying "Oh well!" It's a fucking disgrace that they look similar. Obviously those who saw the comparison as "reasonable", really have no fucking idea how cool and badass Spike is, and how much of a douchebag whiny cunt Keanu "Ask Jeeves" is, and are just looking to profitize off of anime. Seriously. It's a diabolical sin that they look alike. Mere coincidence. I swear, if Keanu fucks this role up, I'll kill him myself for the good of all Cowboy Bebop fans out there...
Maglor said:
Originally Posted by McTool:
"I demand the Cowboy Bebop movie focus around Faye and her life and completely ignore the over-arcing Spike and Vicious plotline.
Faye must be played by Megan Fox."
Are you fucking retarded? There is little hint whatsoever to Spike and Vicous's true relationship anyway in the entire series. %75 of the time, they are trying to catch bounty. More is easily understood about Faye than Spike and his relationship with julia, vicious and the syndicate. There is one episode, where Spike fights vicous and falls out of a church window(something like ep. 5) and the last two episodes,(The Real Folk Blues Pt.I & II) that truly outline anything to do with Spike. I seriously doubt you paid much attention if that's what you're saying.
What about Jet? He had 1 episode explaining what he was about. That's it, and you're telling me Faye is underseen? Christ, You need not to listen to this idiot and watch it for yourself, because really, it's people like this that drive on the unsuccessful storyline adaptations and bodgy cast that often ruin masterpieces. Seriously, Spike is much more of a fascinating character than Faye anyway. I wouldn't be bothered if 10 of the episodes consisted mainly around spike, in fact it would probably have been even better. Although it felt like there were a lot of fillers in the series(You know, the random bounty hunting, fixing the ships, that Big Shot program, etc.) it wouldn't have been the same without them, but it definately would've been better if we'dve seen more of the characters backgrounds, especially Spike. Even so, they STILL managed to pull off an extremely excellent Anime with characters that are just great, storyline(although scarce in parts) that captivate you when plot twists occur, ideas that seem really quite awesome for the future, and a great setting. And title.
The point is this... In the end. This should forever STAY an anime, and that should be it. The live-Action is a slap-in-the-face to all Cowboy Bebop lovers and fans, If they think they can accurately portray Cowboy Bebop, its characters, its charm, its coolness, its storyline, its setting, in 2 hours with name-changes, little imagination and respect, a complete inaccurate view on the anime, and a stone-shit actor such as Keanu Reeves playing one of the most incredible and cool, confident yet badass characters in anime, then I will shoot myself in the face with a remington 280. 12-Gauge shotgun before this farce is successful. But it won't be, because yet again, this is a profitizing act of insult. This is basically ripping the japanese esscence of Anime and Manga out of the picture and replacing it with Capatilism inspired shit. I am absolutely horrified to even know that this is even being allowed by the producers of the original anime, and more so to the fact that Keanu Reeves and Erwin Stoff are even slightly involved.
"although it's not exactly the plot of the anime"
You really didn't have to say that. I could've figured it all out by the title. Of Course it's different. We have Keanu Reeves playing Spike, a character that dies at the end, but no! This is going to be an American Adaptation, therefore he can't die! All Americans are heroes, saving the whole world! We're indestructible! Yeah! No! You're gonna screw the entire plotline up and turn it into a pile of shit as per-se! What's that? You thought that a lot of original American content was a pile of shit? Well wait till you see this! An adaptation of a crystal grade Japanese Anime made to suit all of the patriots in the west! But no, here we are, fellow Cowboy Bebop fans, as our beloved masterpiece is turned into an irratic, corny US of A pile of shit.
All they've basically done, Is watched the series, then seen the Matrix afterwards, and concluded that Keanu Reeves looks like Spike. Therefore, he'd be perfect. Hmm... Why don't you try watching some of his other titles? Then you might reconsider, after you find that his character is NOT easygoing (like spike) Is NOT REALLY a badass(just an arrogant dickhead that wants his paycheck) and cannot move like Spike does, or shoot as well? What, are we gonna see him running really fast, jumping 50 meters across buildings
and being an emotionless twat? Spike has three things over Keanu any day, that he would not be able to portray through acting alone(purely because of his high-school drama class acting abilities) and those three things are; Charm, Class, and Skill.
It will be a fucking failure to those true to recognising great storyline. Anyone who loves the adaptation will hate the anime, and those who truly cherish the Anime will hate the adaptation. If they can choose the casted actor for Spike so poorly, what's stopping them from doing the same to rest of the characters?
Let's put it this way, huh? If Keanu Reeves and Spike Spiegel were to have a fight, who would win?
I don't really need to tell you... do I?
Chris said:
Guys, I think you might have misinterpreted. I don't think they're calling the drug "Bebop" it's just the fictional "Bebop" drug. As in... the fictional drug from Bebop. Note that throughout the article anytime Bebop was mentioned it was also put in quotes like that. I think they're just referring to the series.
Seriously, "Bloody Eye" just sounds more badass than "Bebop" - they're not going to change that name.
