Keanu Reeves working on live action Cowboy Bebop movie

Paul

Paul

Ghost of Animes
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The MTV Movies Blog <a href="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/12/17/keanu-reeves-eager-to-do-something-good-with-cowboy-bebop-movie/">has word</a> that (Hollywood actor) <strong><em>Keanu Reeves</em></strong> is currently working on a live action adaptation of the (1997) sci-fi anime TV series <em><strong>Cowboy Bebop</strong></em>, with the intention of playing main character <em><strong>Spike Spiegel</strong></em> (a kung-fu fighting bounty hunter). One particular quote from <em>Reeves </em>explains how the movie will begin with the (Red Eye) story from the first episode, before "picking out various highlights" from the rest of the series:
<ul>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re taking the Red Eye [story], the beginning part of the series,&rdquo; he explained, &ldquo;and then we&rsquo;ll deal with the end of the series. We&rsquo;re trying to figure out [the time frame]. We&rsquo;re looking at the story right now.&rdquo;</ul>
If you're yet to see <em>Cowboy Bebop</em>, it was released in the UK by Beez Entertainment and should be available to buy from any high-street or online shop.
 
Just read about this on MAL, can't say i'm particulally feeling it myself though, he wouldn't of been on my picks for a Spike. Though i wonder how long it will take now for the rest of the cast to be picked. Though his comment is making me wonder if they are just going to settle with one movie or if its going to be the current hollywood trend of movies in threes
 
It should've been a requirement for the live-action Spike actor to be skilled at the martial arts style Bruce Lee used. The requirements should've also included lots of charisma and funky hair. I hope Keanu has a brilliant double, a personality implant and a wig ready for his role.
 
I'm strangely optimistic, there is a good film somewhere in Cowboy Bebop - if they take the main narrative which only runs for about 5 episodes, then it could be adapted quite faithfully within a two hour running time. I don't think Keanu Reeves is such bad casting either, though there's probably someone better suited to the role.

I doubt it'll hold up to the series, but it has a chance at being respectable.
 
I think I'll skip it, but feel slightly encouraged by his quote implying that he has actually seen more than 10 seconds of the show. Something more directors/writers/actors in adaptations like this would benefit from.

I think the story could compress quite well yet I just don't particularly feel I want to see it anyway. The TV show was just right. I don't think Jet or Ed could come off so well either with any real actors I know.

R
 
Dragonball, as you know, I'm still strangely excited for for. This, however, I'm doubting a bit more. I can't say I've seen enough of Keanu (Scanner Darkly, parts of The Matrix) to say how good he could possibly be but the general consensus is that he is lifeless. But, looking at what he has said about the series, he seems to know what he is doing, and what kind of character Spike is.
Lupus Inu said:
sanji no 1 said:
Johnny Depp would be much better.
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Cowboy Bebop isn't a gothic fairy tale.
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Just let the Mad Hatter be.

Depp, no matter how amazing that one character he acts is, it's still one character. As for that character being Spike... He'll guarantee a greenlight and a big box office revenue but I don't think would opt for this without Burton or Disney. Depp is probably my favourite actor, though. He'd make me want to see a movie because of him [and that is stardom.]
 
Rui said:
I think I'll skip it...

The TV show was just right. I don't think Jet or Ed could come off so well either with any real actors I know.
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Well, I've survived Constantine, so I was thinking this might be all right.

When you say jet, Ron perlman comes to mind. Ed, well, no one really comes to mind for her / him.
 
Spike has charisma and dry wit. Keanu seems to get roles that require no emotion (matrix, the day the earth stood still)

I'm also worried that they are saying they will take highlights from the rest of the series. ummm, it was episode in nature, not a big storyline that you can just pluck bits from. See if they go ahead and include most of the major storyline in one film i will not be impressed.
 
Nyu said:
Spike has charisma and dry wit. Keanu seems to get roles that require no emotion (matrix, the day the earth stood still)

I'm also worried that they are saying they will take highlights from the rest of the series. ummm, it was episode in nature, not a big storyline that you can just pluck bits from. See if they go ahead and include most of the major storyline in one film i will not be impressed.
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Though Keanu is also good at stoned teenager roles juding from his Bill and Ted days :p. Still his name will attract some movie goers.
 
chaos said:
Rui said:
I think I'll skip it...

The TV show was just right. I don't think Jet or Ed could come off so well either with any real actors I know.
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Well, I've survived Constantine, so I was thinking this might be all right.

When you say jet, Ron perlman comes to mind. Ed, well, no one really comes to mind for her / him.
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I thought Ron as well or Jet but I am not sure, although I could possibly see how someone like Michael Clark Duncan could work. Bruce Willis might even be able to pull it off if he was a bit beefier.

I don't know about Keanu Reeves though as Spike I thought he ruined the Matrix films, but was not too bad in Constantine even though the story and everything was so messed up. I just can't think of who would make a good Spike though, they need to be skinny be able to deliver comedy with a dry wit and be able to do the action which is where Keanu might score some points from doing the Matrix.
 
I'm more worried about the soundtrack, really. I mean, obviously the 'Bebop' word in the title is a reference to jazz, so I'm thinking this live action version will have to incorporate a strong musical influence too, but I don't know anyone else that's even close to Yoko Kanno?
 
On the Jazz front I don't know whether they would want to write a completely new score or see if they could get existing pieces and mix them up with at least some of Yoko Kanno's influence.
 
Paul said:
I'm more worried about the soundtrack, really. I mean, obviously the 'Bebop' word in the title is a reference to jazz, so I'm thinking this live action version will have to incorporate a strong musical influence too, but I don't know anyone else that's even close to Yoko Kanno?
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I'm pretty sure they could get her to do it though, if they wanted... And if Reeves is really a great fan of anime, I think he must have heard of her already...

Or even this:
Dracos said:
On the Jazz front I don't know whether they would want to write a completely new score or see if they could get existing pieces and mix them up with at least some of Yoko Kanno's influence.
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Aion said:
It should've been a requirement for the live-action Spike actor to be skilled at the martial arts style Bruce Lee used.
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Bruce Lee used very aggressive techniques. Spike used the defensive types that took advantage of momentum. The two couldn't be anymore different.
Nyu said:
I'm also worried that they are saying they will take highlights from the rest of the series. ummm, it was episode in nature, not a big storyline that you can just pluck bits from. See if they go ahead and include most of the major storyline in one film i will not be impressed.
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There were episodes that were part of a basic plot. All of the episodes involving Vicious and/or Julie (or whatever her name is) were part of it. There's enough material to make one. They can also just make it take place during the series but be like a long episode (e.g. Knockin' On Heaven's Door).
 
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