Netflix is producing a 10-episode live-action adaptation of the cult hit anime series Cowboy Bebop. Chris Yost, the writer behind Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok will write and executive produce for Tomorrow Studios. For those who don’t know, Cowboy Bebop is about the adventures (or misadventures) of an easygoing bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his partners Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Edward and Ein.
Before working on features, Chris Yost made a career of writing for comic book-based animated series. Shinichirō Watanabe, the director of the original series, will serve as a consultant.
I am ashamed to admit that I have not seen the Cowboy Bebop animated series. I did watch Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)…over a dozen times. It is one of my favorite anime films along with (Akira, Ninja Scroll (Jubei the Wind Ninja), Fist of the North Star and Vampire Hunter D to name a few. Why haven’t I seen it? The same reason it took me forever to watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (excellent series by the way)….because I hate being disappointed and cringe deeply at butchered properties. I’m sure the series is great (probably better than the movie) and will most assuredly get to watching it eventually but I have always taken a cautionary approach to such things.
This news…brings me nothing but trepidation and worry.
There was a time that Netflix would be the ideal place I’d like to see an adaptation. That is no longer the case and hasn’t been for quite some time. Netflix’s heavy push of SJW ideologies has tainted far too many projects. Even when the creators claim that they will stay true to the source material, such as they did with the upcoming Witcher series they just can’t seem to help themselves from going back on their word. Tomorrow Studios is also involved with the Snowpiercer series in the works and that doesn’t help this news at all.
I envision all manner of atrocities on the horizon. Race and gender bending. The interjection of liberal politics. The inevitable attack on the fandom when the people behind this are called out for it. Basically…a giant poop show.
Of course, I could be wrong. That would be…nice.
