Fans will be able to check out the first episodes of Netflix’s live-action series adaptation of popular anime Cowboy Bebop on November 19th. The streamer recently revealed the release date on social media and shared the first images from the highly-anticipated show.
The images give us a better look at the protagonist Spike Spiegel, played by Harold and Kumar’s John Cho, who is donning his signature purple suit from the anime in one image and training shirtless in the other. Netflix also gave us a glimpse of other members of the Bebop crew, including Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir) and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda).
The story of Cowboy Bebop anime happens in 2071 and focuses on a crew of bounty hunters traveling through space in a spaceship named Bebop. The series, which premiered in 1998, only had a 26-episode run and one movie. However, this was enough for the anime to receive critical acclaim and hold cult status among anime fans.
Cowboy Bebop was previously set to be adapted as a live-action feature in 2009, with Keanu Reeves set to star as Spiegel. However, the project was stalled due to budget issues and never got off.
In the meantime, a live-action TV series entered pre-production in 2017, with Netflix joining in the project shortly after. The series started with filming in 2019, but the production ended up being halted for more than six months after Cho injured his knee. Coronavirus pandemic caused further delays before season one officially wrapped up production in March.
