In the fall, Fox acquired the rights to the 90’s Japanese anime Cowboy Bebop with the intention of turning it into a feature-length live action film. Keanu Reeves has now signed on to play the lead character, Spike Speigel.
One of the big titles in anime, “Bebop” is set in a time where “astral gates” make interstellar travel possible. Humanity, decimated by a lunar explosion resulting from a gate accident, spread out across the solar system, as did crime, which gave rise to the use of bounty hunters.
Reeves would play Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter and former member of a crime syndicate. Spiegel, along with Jet Black, a fellow bounty hunter and former cop, are the two pilots of the spaceship Bebop…
The show, which first aired on Tokyo TV and satcaster Wowow during the late 1990s, was strongly influenced by American music, even featuring action sequences — both space battles and mano a mano — timed to U.S. melodies.
Reeves’ association with the project leaked in the summer when Fox and 3 Arts Entertainment began the process of acquiring the rights from Sunrise Studios.
[from THR]
There are several problems with the threat of this film. First, a live action version will all but kill a beloved cult classic. Second, for everyone’s sake, will someone please stop casting Keanu Reeves? And finally, why can’t someone in Hollywood come up with a movie idea of their own?
2008 was a terrible year for films, as can be seen by the bland choices for the Globes. The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 22nd, and they can’t be expected to be any better. No one seems to have new ideas anymore – even the indie flicks are carbon copies of each other.
Hopefully this movie won’t turn into a Speed Racer-esque technicolor trip, though I can imagine Keanu will suck the life out of any scene he’s in even if the directors do decide to work with every color of the rainbow. Keanu may be a closeted genius, but it will be sad when moviegoers realize that the cartoon Spike has more charisma than his real-life counterpart.
[Thanks to I Watch Stuff for the story idea]
Keanu is gorgeous but his acting is non-existant.
I agreed isnt there any younger actors like japanese english speaking ones who could add a spark. why him others need money to hasnt he got enough
Lmao @ closeted genius.
I love Cowboy Bebop and Keanu is very unsuitable to play Spike. He’s unsuitable to play anyone.
Seriously, he will f-up this movie. I am most seriously displeased.
Bebop is my favorite shows. I like Keanu. I think he can do a good job as Spike. I am more worried about a live action adaptation being made, but you never know. They may get it right.
I have never uses ‘Keanue’ and ‘animated’ in the same sentence!
He is the most stiff/wooden actor since Pinnocchio!
he is so pretty, i honestly don’t care that his acting is terrible. does that make me shallow?
he’s pretty, maybe, but he can’t act worth a shit. Being a big fan of bebop, i’m severely disappointed. casting Keanu says “We don’t take this seriously, lololol. paycheck.”
The story in bebop is great, the characters have some semblance of depth and with this choice as the lead all i can foresee is Bright flashing lights, explosions and of course, t&a.. ala Transformers and the Matrix. The nerd in me weeps today.
I know he’s not a really great actor,(although,i think he tries really really hard) but i have really enjoyed him in some movies.
Mainly ‘The Matrix” and “Somethings Gotta Give” “Parenthood” “Constantine”spring to mind.
He’s appealing to me,maybe it’s because i’d like to give him a good scrub.
The woman in me weeps today.
So he doesn’t have a typical way of speaking or conversing in a movie.. He used to be bad, but he’s gotten quite good, and I’m tired of hearing people dog him like he never got any better. Did you see Devil’s Advocate? Did you see Constantine? I can tell you your precious Brad Pitt is no better, and gets by with his little cute quirky stupid shit. Then Brad gets nominated for an Oscar? I guess if Keanu got with Angelina, or someone of the like and did the Hollywood PR thing, he’d be on the same path. lol
I love him. His box office draw doesn’t lie either. I’m not the only one.
whatever… It’s Keanu , I’ll pay money to see him 😉
why oh why do they do this to manga cant they find a english speaking actor in japan