Terrible, not sure who would be better but I know that he dosen't fit.

I dont understand anime?!?! Its like i saw speed racer, and that was fast and all, but a movie from a cartoon?!?! why don't they make a cartoon feature of the tv show! LOL, like ghostbuster, remember that cartoon?!?! i love that peter venkmen, thats a good cartoon they turned into a movie for sure!

They should make matrix 4, hoooooray movies!

Man hell no.

What the fuck? NO!

Just make another animated Bebop film.

I hate the idea. Spike is one of my favorite characters and I can never imagine any live action movie living up to the original. I was sad to see it end but happy to leave it as legendary. It would just tarnish the name.

@oh blair

They already made a movie out of cowboy bebop and it was good (animated).

The reason they even thought about making this travesty is to recoup on the costs they paid for licensing the show for sale and broadcast (including the movie). They released the show and movie on dvd but as the studio decided not to actually spend any money marketing it the sales were probably not spectacular enough for them. And now they have no real original marketable scripts coming in they figure they can plunder the license they previously acquired and make a movie. They probably think because it has a fanbase it will be an easy sell and be able to make them money and they also probably think that anime is the new cash cow now that comic book adaptations are passe, japanese horror material is drying up, the porting of korean romcoms didnt pan out and they probably saw that dragonball was being made and that's what young people must be into.




Anyway, shit idea, horrible casting, clueless scriptwriters (from the interviews I've read) and a half arsed studio backing will mean a horrible movie.

At least I still have the original anime to watch, they can't take that away from me.

He's all kinds of wrong for that part. You need a Ryan Reynolds type for Spike.

I'd be getting all pissed at this, but the Akira and Evangelion live-action films have been "coming out" for years now. I doubt it'll ever get made.

Or maybe I just hope it won't.

That second guy who posted doesn't know what he's talking about. Dragonball Z does not work as live action, neither does Speed Racer, but Cowboy Bebop is not your typical anime and COULD hypothetically work.

That said, LEAVE IT ALONE! DON'T MAKE IT!

I love Cowboy Bebop dearly and I just know they're gonna fuck this up. Plus Keanu is soooo not Spike.

So they picked a guy seemingly just for his ability to have weird hair and do action scenes?

He would be horrible for the part.

I can totally see him in the role.

I've always been a avid fan of Cowboy Bebop and I loved the feature film (animated) that followed the series. A live-action adaptation for Cowboy Bebop is certainly more feasible than say Evangelion or Akria, given that that the subject matter in Bebop was much more different than Evangelion and/or Akira. So I can see a Bebop film being made would be somewhat more palatable to the general American audience.

As always when it comes to casting the roles of characters with a deep-seated fan base already in place, there will always be dissent amongst fans. In this case I myself have to agree that casting Keanu Reeves as Spike Spiegel would not be the best call. I personally have always thought that Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords would have been an interesting choice given his appearance and silly demeanor. All of which I can see being played into Spike Speigel's character.

I always thought joseph gordon levit would make a good spike

erwin stoff (producer) was quoted a few weeks ago as saying his focus would be on capturing the mood of the series - i think that's an excellent place to start. he and reeves have a LONG history since bill & ted's, and while stoff has had some so-so films, he did give us a the matrix, a skanner darkly & i am legend (plus many others).

whoever takes the reigns on this should make it a collaboration between yatate (creator), watanabe (director) and even kanno (music) to truly capture the mood of this. it should NOT be live-action anime ala speed racer, it should be something dark and entirely new.

by all means, let the know-it-all bithcing and naysaying begin before it even goes into pre-production, but i'm on board.

That would ruin what is easily known as one of the best/if not the best anime Of All Time.

I was in SD Comic Con and the rumors spread from there... I can confirm.

come on guys you know with the right people behind it this movie could work. im not saying i absolutely want it to be made but imagine it with liek a children of men feel.... and yeah keanu reeves would be a horrible spike.. hes too old anyways. i wonder who would play ed????

@ graham

i'm a reeves fan, but i think gordon levitt is also an excellent choice.

I'd give it a chance just because I like the anime so much. The only character I could foresee them screwing up would be Edward and that is mainly because Edward is so over the top/hyperactive/ecstatic that I think a normal live action person playing her would just come across as corny or unbelievable but you never know. If they actually screw it up, so what. I've got hours of good Cowboy Bebop to fall back on.

I agree, nix the Live action movie.

However, please bring the series to bluray !!!

What do I think?

No, really bad idea...

Dear god, the man can barely act. I'm not against a live action movie bases upon the anime. But there are talented actors out there that need work and possibly look the part.

Hell, next we'll hear that Natalie Portman or Sienna Miller is pegged to play Faye and Robin Williams will be playing Jet.

Some of the stupid shit Hollywood does and totally thinks it's a great idea.

My love of movies dies a bit more with all of the crap that comes out every month.

Bebop is one of my favorite anime and I think it could definitely work as a live action film, given a good cast and director. I'm on the fence with Keanu though. He has the fighting ability but I don't know about it acting wise.

Shit, if they have The Real Folk Blues playing in the credits I'll be there.

*insert ironic tone*
Shia LeBouf

NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

SPOILER for the anime: (DO NOT READ)

I already had to watch the character Spike die once... must I endure it again by the hands of Keanu this time around????

(END SPOILER)

Keanu can act and, to say the truth, he deserves better roles than this cartoon. For real, the whole 'Keanu can't act' vitriol is tired and already proved wrong. A man who played Ted Logan, Jack Traven, the damn Thomas Anderson/Neo and Bob Arctor in A Scanner Darkly, is just more than fine in my book.

You need someone who can be witty and smooth, not Keanu. I'm a fan of his and all, but this isn't his character type.

I would love another animated Bebop movie, but I don't think anime needs to be turned into live action. I guess I just don't understand the reasoning behind live action Akira and Bebop. I really wish American audiences would be more open to Japanese animation in theaters. Whenever they do come around it's usually a limited theater release, I'd love to see a large nation wide opening.

Keanu rules.

I'm completely good with the idea of making a live action Cowboy BeBop, but Keanu for Spike?? No, I think that is an absolutely horrible fit. I honestly hope this is a rumor and doesn't come to pass.

Nonononononononononononononononononoohgodnononononono

I agree with Captain Awesome, they should just make another animated film.

but there already is a live action cowboy bebop.

it's called "firefly".

:D

Isn't Akira already a sure thing? I'm a big fan of Akira and I'm actually looking forward to a live action treatment.

As a series, I can see where fans have a vested interest in preserving their characters, but a liv eaction CB may not be a horrible thing. Reeves isn't a great choice, but with the right choice, I think they could make some good films.

Of course, I'd rather see an animated film, but that is a losing battle at this point.

keanu? ummm isn't spike suppose to be charismatic? how about heath led..... errrr nm. but seriously, james marsters ftw!

I could see james marsters in the role. I think he'd fit the laid back hero with an attitude role really well but he's getting pretty old isn't he?

This is just a really REALLY BAD idea. Please don't :(

"What do you think of Keanu Reeves starring in a live action Cowboy Bebop?" I think it's the worst (film) news of the year! Hope however suggested this dies a horrible, horrible way.. Or gets fired. One or the other.

worst idea/news i've read in a long time.

sure i don't give a flying fuck if they make another terminator movie, or if someone wants to remake robocop... but touch this story is way out of line and for fuck sake, come up with something new and stop the lame sequel/prequel, "let's do a movie based on that cereal box character" or "let's fuck up this great story with a retarded cast and a wannabe director/writer" already!

whoever thinks this is a good idea, go watch til episode 24, watch the animated movie (knockin' on heaven's doors) and watch the series finale. After that you'll be raging at least an hour just at the bare thought of some stupid overpaid hollywood writer even touching that.

fuck this, it's been a while since I rage cause of something i read on the internet.

Someone better. Please.

I'm sorry to all the naysayers but Keanu is essentially perfect for this role. Overtly serious most of the time, almost always gloomy with the occasional smirk or half-smile here or there. That's not only Keanu Reeves, that's Spike Spiegel.

I hope they do this right. The casting is spot-on though, despite all the popular Keanu hate.

Keanu is going to have to bring his A game for this movie. My expectations for this movie is going to be high because Cowboy Bebop is the best anime ever. They better have the music correct and Faye Valentine should make me wet my pants.

fuck that, id rather be shat on than see keanu play anything but neo or ted, lets face it he suckss

"Keanu is going to have to bring his A game for this movie."

Ha. He doesn't have one of those.

i love cowboy bebop. and spike is bad ass. keanu may "look" the part, but i doubt he can act it. i don't know who i'd pick, but i'm sure they can do better. i think a no-name actor would be cooler to see on screen. this way i don't think "oh, that old matrix move" or "that old Bill & Ted joke". and hopefully EIN is a bad ass robodog (but still a corgy!)

I'm not the biggest Keanu Reeves fan since he does sound like an unemotional robot. Doesn't anyone remember im playing John Constantine? As the long as the live action is dark and lightly comedic, I think Reeves could pull it off.

I'm just glad the Japanese isn't filming this into live action themselves because they'll ruin it. Last time I remember, Hollywood versions of anime film is so much better compared to any Japnese live action. So Hollywood, I'm counting on you, just don't make the same mistake as Speed Racer.

But seriously, why can't Hollywood adapt anime as they did with comics? It's the same shit, different medium.

NO! Most likely they would only ruin a great series. I had a friend that would turn on an episode every night so he could sleep. I can't imagine a movie with keanu doing it justice.

Oh, for the love of God, please, no.

I'm not a long-standing Bebop fan, as I've only seen the first episode. That said, it does seem to have a cool Firefly-esque vibe that may be interesting *if done right*.
(Apologies in advance to all the long-standing Bebop fans that completely disagree...)

Oh... wow... If that happens I will loose all faith in the movie industry... That is one of the most vile rumors I have ever heard. Please let it not be true!

@Killian:
You have faith in the movie industry? Where can I get some?

Anyways, Keanu doesn't feel right for Spike. Of course, it is way too early to groan about/praise this decision. Its only a rumor.

@ pirxthepilot

Hahaha! Great, but only slightly true!

Firefly is a mix of Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star. I love Joss, but the similarities are so blatant especially in 'The Train Job'.