CowBoy Bebop Live Action

(Anime(64)
Fri 2008/07/25 10:27
iF Magazine has the news...

We caught up with producer-extraordinaire Erwin Stoff at the NBC TCAs where he was promoting his upcoming updated-David-and-Goliath-based show KINGS. When asked about other projects he is currently working on, Stoff, let slip some very juicy news about a very beloved anime franchise. “I’m developing COWBOY BEBOP for Fox, but doing it as a live-action film, so I’m working on that at the moment,” Stoff tells iF. “I’m really excited to be working on it, and it’s in the really early stages. We just signed it the other day.” “I have such an enormous admiration for its creators, that our first and foremost concern is going to be a real degree of faithfulness to the tone of the movie, to the mix of genres, and so on and so forth,” he says. “When I met with them in Japan, one of the first things that I brought up was the experience that we had on A SCANNER DARKLY, and how hard we worked to remain faithful to Philip K. Dick, and that was our big concern here.”
I get the feeling that more anime-to-hollywood tie ups are to come. Would be interesting to see one for Gundam or Macross done by the Transformers guy. For those who have not seen Cowboy Bebop then make efforts to see it - its quite brilliant - OP here. Image via Moe Imouto.
Posted on Fri 2008/07/25 10:27 by
Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on Mon 2006/12/11 12:18)
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Soul3ss in San Francisco, CA (Registered on 2007/07/21 13:06)
The town drunk
Michael Bay? No thanks, if he were to do a Gundam movie, he'd go off and butcher the designs.
(ID #246859) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:00
Big Daddy in Makati Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/24 21:06)
Network Specialist by day, Otaku by some other time
I am totally with you on this...Michael Bay did it well in putting it to film but sucked in changing the design of the bots ...
(ID #246923) Posted on 2008/07/25 12:59
Gammagreen_Zero in Porto, Portugal, Earth Federation (Registered on 2007/02/19 04:36)
Student, Gamer, Part-time EFSF Pilot
Well... If Hajime Katoki did the redesigning, Michael Bay would be fine to direct.
(ID #247282) Posted on 2008/07/25 20:25
acw2097 in Pitts PA USA (Registered on 2008/06/11 17:37)
おたくと大学生。
I agree. I do not like Michael Bay's work. its all blowup, bad acting, no story. fox better not fark this one up, or else theres going to be many PO-ed otaku. so far everyone that I have talked to about this, including myself, are mad at fox for daring to even touch the greatness of bebop. 
(ID #247459) Posted on 2008/07/26 02:23
wildquaker in Philippines (Registered on 2008/08/12 22:38)
Web Developer
Couldn't argue with you on that one. Michael Bay's a great action director...hands down to that. But he screws up with the designs which fans wouldn't really like.
(ID #264688) Posted on 2008/08/13 21:10
XTaku in Hayward, California (Registered on 2008/06/27 14:24)
高校三年生
intresting and worryfull at the same time. lets just hope for the best. this is one of the anime's ive grown up with in the past, one of the ones I always reminice about.
(ID #246866) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:11
mavadotar in Peterborough, Canada (Registered on 2007/12/11 20:38)
Otaku Security Guard
Oh hell, this is not gonna turn out very well. I could laugh at the Dragonball Z movie, cause the series was already so goofy, but they shouldn;t do this to poor Bebop
(ID #246873) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:19
Hatix in Antwerp, Belgium (Registered on 2007/04/25 06:26)
IT, Programmer, Otaku, ...
and it's actually a Dragonball movie, not DBZ, so I don't even know why they did it. DBZ has got much more action and more serious, while the original Dragonball was more comedy and they were kids, now they are almost grownups in the movie...
(ID #247213) Posted on 2008/07/25 18:32
MARl0 in United States (Registered on 2007/11/16 11:10)
Graphic Designer
I don't see this ending well...
(ID #246879) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:26
godpir in USA (Registered on 2008/04/30 15:04)
Student, Help Desk Worker
Sweetness!  I'm looking forward to this, plus if Michael Bay got together with some people and did Macross and Gundam (Forgetting G-Savior) would be awesome!
(ID #246888) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:52
godpir in USA (Registered on 2008/04/30 15:04)
Student, Help Desk Worker
Oh yeah, he should stick with the original designs, but make them look more realistic
(ID #246890) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:53
TomGnome in USA (Registered on 2008/02/15 19:08)
Digital animation
This could be really cool or really lame, If the keep the overall mellow beatnik feel mixed with great music and visuals, I'm sure it could be good. Though it is Japanese, bebop is very much driven by Western Ideals, and America styles of music, so I dont think it is as dangerous to give to american directors as say, Dragonball. We will just have to wait and pray.
(ID #246889) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:52
Jira in Atl, GA (Registered on 2007/08/16 10:06)
Student, Opportunity seeker
I feel the same way. Couldn't have said it better. I just hope Yoko Kanno returns for the movie soundtrack.
(ID #246982) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:59
Jenarwen in Vancouver (Registered on 2008/03/06 14:05)
Art Student/Freelancer
Could be cool..or not XD. As long as Faye Valentine doesn't look like Man Faye I have no complaints...I think
(ID #246892) Posted on 2008/07/25 11:57
lightningsabre in Vancouver (Registered on 2007/08/30 19:39)
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 太もも Appreciator
Well time to list who'd you want to be Faye then :D

Hard to say, buf honestly Angelina Jolie's name first came up in my head. Megan Fox maybe?
(ID #247756) Posted on 2008/07/26 08:42
coffeebugg in the coffee shop across the street (Registered on 2008/05/22 19:23)
Web monkey, coffee addicted cerberus, Chef Vader
Michael Bay raeps Japanese mecha. nuff said.
(ID #246896) Posted on 2008/07/25 12:05
Tiny Red Man in Tiny Red Dot, Singapore. (Registered on 2007/04/11 18:03)
Dog of the Country
i wouldn;t mind a macross series done by lucasfilm or industrial light and magic.. Their graphics in transformers just blew me off..even till now. looking forward to part 2. 
(ID #246901) Posted on 2008/07/25 12:14
-XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States (Registered on 2007/01/01 15:24)
Student Engineer
Bebop is a classic- I think they can pull this off without butchering it.
(ID #246911) Posted on 2008/07/25 12:37
Seikaku in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (Registered on 2008/01/01 13:57)
IT
Finally someone with some sense. Bebop isn't that unrealistic so it could easily be made into a great live action film, as long as it's taken seriously. 
(ID #247081) Posted on 2008/07/25 15:39
necrophadian in Palookaville, USA (Registered on 2007/04/22 13:25)
Procrastinator Extraordinaire
Macross would be a hard and expensive intellectual property to get for western cinema. though if Michael Bay did it, he better keep the crescent moon shaped explosions and the mecha designs faithful.
(ID #246930) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:17
Snafu Slick in South Carolina, USA (Registered on 2008/06/12 10:05)
Motivational Speaker
(Again)
*holds breath* =X
(ID #246934) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:20
Maryweather in Sydney (Registered on 2008/05/22 12:07)
Teacher, Artist, Writer
Robotech is loved by westerners (Its Macross) so should gross well just on the fan base alone. However I agree with our members that stuff like Comic to Live and particular Anime to Live, are basically sink or swim affairs. Anime especially comes with added lead weight. 
(ID #246938) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:29
Zen in Zjhentohlauedy Home Planet. aka. somewhere in the Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/10 23:35)
Student of LIFE!
i didn't even know there was a robotech movie last 2006 made by the US until a few weeks ago
(ID #246944) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:33
necrophadian in Palookaville, USA (Registered on 2007/04/22 13:25)
Procrastinator Extraordinaire
yes, Robotech: the Shadow Chronicles. it was as thrilling as people hoped it would be. 
(ID #246986) Posted on 2008/07/25 14:02
Zou in New York City (Registered on 2008/07/08 14:07)
Student & Authorized Chicken Slapper
lol I can just imagine what you said about Gundams and Macross. But yeah Hollywood definitely wants in on the Anime money market.
(ID #246950) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:38
kousaka in USA (Registered on 2007/09/02 02:03)
student
Im putting all my faith in this one.  Hopefully it won't suck.
(ID #246976) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:55
XSportSeeker in Brazil (Registered on 2007/08/22 06:42)
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Sorry to be the negative guy here, but for me personally, there will never be such a thing as a "good Hollywood adaptation to an anime".

But that's because I'm a purist. I don't want to see my beloved anime mixed with Hollywood.
I started watching anime because I was sick and tired of Hollywood crap.

Given that there are great Hollywood movies out there.

But I can't watch an anime with english dubbing, much less anime with american actors.

People who don't share my opinnion would probably enjoy good adaptations of stuff like Cowboy Bebop, Witch Hunter Robin, Monster and other stuff though.
(ID #246979) Posted on 2008/07/25 13:56
Pyoro in Singapore (Registered on 2007/08/23 01:35)
Student
nah i agree with ya 
it's not simply because you are a purist. 
however in the hands of a competent writer, you never know. just look at the dark knight. being able to turn a franchise made for kids into one with implicit gore and violence with a compelling storyline was no mean feat. granted, they need the financial backing of a movie studio like Warner to make this work...
(ID #247307) Posted on 2008/07/25 21:34
jonhohx in adelaide (Registered on 2007/05/14 20:43)
filmaker
cowboy bebop is my all time fav anime...hope hollywood doesnt balls it up
(ID #247023) Posted on 2008/07/25 14:38
Kyori in Hell in Heaven (Registered on 2008/05/20 17:50)
Designer
Cowboy Bebop is a cool nice anime... and I don't wish to see it polluted/corrupted or stained by hollywood.
They always uglified stuffs other than their own superheros.
(ID #247024) Posted on 2008/07/25 14:38
Kairu in USA (Registered on 2008/06/07 02:57)
Student
After hearing this come up so often.....I have only seen one good side to this.  Maybe it will make anime a bit more mainstream in some areas.  In doing so helping the artists and such? 
........if not kill anime completely XD 
(ID #247032) Posted on 2008/07/25 14:45
bibiyona in Illinois, US (Registered on 2008/01/17 03:44)
Student
No! No! No! Stop Hollywood! Lay off our beloved anime!
(ID #247042) Posted on 2008/07/25 14:56
Manny_V in Canada (Registered on 2008/05/08 02:25)
Freelance Motion Graphics Artist
*vein pop*

again...such negativity about anime-to-Hollywood movies...
first the anime revolution that changed the west, people are calling for more anime in the west...now that it's getting attention...people don't want the kind of attention they're giving anime...
don't get me wrong...i love my anime the way it is, but this shouldn't be seen as a bad thing...for f*cks sake keep an open mind...
to danny: sorry mate...just had to give my 2 cents...
(ID #247052) Posted on 2008/07/25 15:10
leefe in a tincan. (Registered on 2007/08/15 21:37)
Lazyass human
Want Macross on Hollywood! But I won't be able to imagine their songs XD
(ID #247088) Posted on 2008/07/25 15:42
Jaydead in Philippines (Registered on 2008/05/21 14:27)
Programmer
Tobey Maguire's Production company is already doing the live-action Macross movie.  and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back) will be doing the screenplay
(ID #247109) Posted on 2008/07/25 16:15
Roddy in currently in Lisbon-Portugal (Registered on 2008/04/14 23:45)
graduate studant (TV Broadcasting & Cinema )
do the have a realese date yet? web site maybe?
(ID #247173) Posted on 2008/07/25 17:40
Roddy in currently in Lisbon-Portugal (Registered on 2008/04/14 23:45)
graduate studant (TV Broadcasting & Cinema )
Man that is AWESOME!!!! but, what a bout the cast... who in, hollywood, is cool enought to play Spike?

an anime that i would love to see in holly wood, made by the same Transformers people, is PATLABOR...cool.....!!!!!!!!!
(ID #247168) Posted on 2008/07/25 17:38
mikiwank in france (Registered on 2008/06/21 09:22)
collector
I gonna be sick, Michael Bay, Heurk !!
(ID #247260) Posted on 2008/07/25 19:33
lostandfound in Singapore (Registered on 2007/10/22 03:22)
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
I just hope this movie is not gonna suck...
Nice piture, Vicious is the only one holding a katana...
(ID #247280) Posted on 2008/07/25 20:19
Evil King in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands, Earth (Registered on 2007/12/19 01:36)
Student and full-time otaku
Do not do. Do not want. Anime to movie does not work, ever.
(ID #247355) Posted on 2008/07/25 23:27
Hakushaku in on the chair using a computer.... (Registered on 2008/03/13 04:45)
Seeing red!!!
Those live action will totaly destroy my happyness.....
(ID #247412) Posted on 2008/07/26 00:31
Harts in Estonia (Registered on 2008/06/02 15:38)
Student
Hmm, can this be a good thing? Ehhhhhhhhh:(
Anyway, I have seen Cowboy Bebop, was one of the best I've seen so far. 
(ID #247445) Posted on 2008/07/26 02:01
snorlax in los angeles (Registered on 2008/06/16 12:47)
student
I hope it dose not suck, because I really like Bebop. It has good story and the music was excellent. If this live action ver. has Spike or anyone else saying stupid one liners while shooting or anything like that, then it is going to suck, and kill Bebop for everyone!!
(ID #247507) Posted on 2008/07/26 03:09
macrossfan in Minnesota, USA (Registered on 2008/01/03 09:34)
Sports guy
This is going to be bad..really bad.   Scanner darkly was pathetic
(ID #247562) Posted on 2008/07/26 03:47
Shaman in Singapore (Registered on 2007/11/04 23:05)
Project Manager
if its anything like "300" then still got chance(no lost in translation), if not Bebop will probably be the name of the hair style of the main character in the Live action version....
(ID #247587) Posted on 2008/07/26 03:56
メタルおたくmetalotaku in Holland (Registered on 2007/10/11 23:06)
Working in a supermarket T0T
somehow when I heard this news I did a Darth Vader NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO in myself...
Grimmjoww Pepperjack in New Mexico (Registered on 2008/06/09 15:44)
Video Game Retail
lol, was it monotonous like his? ;)
Smithy in Neo-Venezia (Registered on 2008/05/20 22:31)
~Undine~
The more I think aboutit, the more I feel this will turn out bad. I'm open minded and usually positive by nature but I just can't see a "Cowboy Bebop" live action movie turning out well enough to even approach the level of the anime original.

Please Hollywood do not butcher Spike & Faye! >_<
(ID #247672) Posted on 2008/07/26 06:03
Karasu-kun in オタキュブ (Registered on 2007/07/27 13:13)
大学生徒
Michael Bay turns everything he touches to crap. I liked Bebop a lot before it was popular, and then everyone whether they liked anime or not ended up going on and on about it and it grated on my nerves to the point that I didn't even buy the last DVD when it came out. In light of this, I think that I may pull the series out one day soon and watch them again, now that I'm 6-7 years removed from mass idiocy over the series. I really hope that it gets done right, but short of comic books and novels, movies based on other mediums like games/manga/anime tend to fall short and not match up to the original creation.
(ID #247851) Posted on 2008/07/26 11:19
E^D Crow in Garfield, New Jersey, USA (Registered on 2007/12/16 08:04)
Compounder
I can only hope that they truly respect the source material...  Cowboy Bebop is a great series, and deserves to be handled properly.

E^D
(ID #247857) Posted on 2008/07/26 11:32
Grimmjoww Pepperjack in New Mexico (Registered on 2008/06/09 15:44)
Video Game Retail
i heard that they were doing one, i just didn't know that it was an American director... I probably won't see it so i can save the image of spike and the gang in my head they way it's suppose to be!
wrenley in Philippines! (Registered on 2008/07/17 03:45)
Superhero
Yeah, that's the difference when you've already seen the anime, you can't help but compare it to the anime when you see it.. lol
(ID #247970) Posted on 2008/07/26 14:18
LordHuggington (Registered on 2007/12/27 17:57)
I'll take a wait and see mind set about this.  I liked the anime, so.... the casting will probably be a big factor in whether or not I actually want to see this.
(ID #248008) Posted on 2008/07/26 14:42
GiafLop in Philippines (Registered on 2007/11/25 15:27)
Student
I'd like to see this one on a anime to Hollywood movie since this anime was created on america but since they made it great as an animation, how about trying their best on the live-action, I'm sure they'll not waste this opportunity or I'll hate Hollywood making this a live-action.
(ID #249013) Posted on 2008/07/27 21:19
rnurmin in Silicon Valley, California (Registered on 2007/09/05 06:35)
Analyst
Hm... I'm still waiting for the Real Action Evangelion movies.
The Transformers movie is not bad, so this one worth a shot.
Wonder how the Swordfish will look like in the real action movie =P
(ID #252227) Posted on 2008/07/31 07:30
irene in Canada (Registered on 2008/10/14 02:39)
Pre-law student
Hmmm... Interesting. But I wonder who you will get amongst the American actors to play the characters?
(ID #333385) Posted on 2008/10/14 03:45
irene in Canada (Registered on 2008/10/14 02:39)
Pre-law student
My choices
Paul Walker - Spike
Vin Diesel - Jet
Faye - Maria Ozawa
Ed - Dakota Fanning
(ID #348549) Posted on 2008/10/28 00:04
Snare in Horsham, England (Registered on 2008/05/01 01:19)
Pre-Press Technician
I just hope they don't destroy the magic formula that makes Cowboy BeBop what it is. It would make me cry :(
(ID #459168) Posted on 2009/01/23 20:41
Hoshizora - DreamtheFuture in San Francisco and Shibuya! (Registered on 2009/01/12 03:10)
Future Pioneer and a Dreamer
well as of now it seems Keanu reeves wil be in this movie
MAsia in NERV HQ, Tokyo-3 (Registered on 2007/01/15 06:19)
Supreme Commander of NERV Co.
Whens the release again?!
(ID #500483) Posted on 2009/02/24 13:17
ed142 in CA, the valley (Registered on 2009/02/23 19:33)
student- university servant
please just dont mess up the music
(ID #501375) Posted on 2009/02/25 11:32
Dj Tip in The Colony, Texas (Registered on 2009/06/17 12:48)
High Schoo Senior= D
=D other anime/movie adaptations are avatar the last air bender, akira, and ghost in the shell. 

if i remember correctly i have heard akira was going to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and steven spillberg is going to be involved in the ghost in the shell movie. i cant wait =]
(ID #665244) Posted on 2009/07/03 18:21
Heavy in Georgia U.S.A. (Registered on 2009/07/02 12:51)
Exploring worlds and ways of thought
Posting late but never the less. Cowboy Bebop to me ranks up there with Heavy Metal, The Hobbit and Akira in no particular order....AND Fantasia for that matter...plus some others but I will keep it short. If the vision, concept and feel are kept pure it could work, like Lord Of The Rings. NO detail was too small and was re-created faithfully. The rest is history...
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