Netflix’s adaptation of the anime classic Cowboy Bepop was currently well into production last year before the main star John Cho suffered a knee injury on set in October. The crew had already began filming in Auckland, but there has been no official date to resume, especially after COVID-19 halted productions everywhere.
Cowboy Bebop follows Spike Spiegel, a prior hitman of the illegal Red Dragon Syndicate in the year 2071. The events of the show occur after a hyperspace gateway incident rendered the Earth unsuitable for civilization, forcing humanity to flee to other planets in the solar system on-board a spaceship called Bebop. Amongst the traveling folk are a group of bounty hunters (known as “Cowboys”) including Spiegel, his rival Vicious and Vicious’ girlfriend Julia. The anime spawned two manga series and a video game after its renowned success during the late nineties and was said to be inspired by science fiction, western and noir films.
In an interview with Cowboy Bebop showrunner Javier Grillo-Marxuach, fans were warned that Netflix’s adaptation would stray from the anime’s original format. Grillo-Marxuach revealed that the show’s structure would revolve around on hour episodes depicting a serialized story instead of the anime’s 26 22-minute installments. Noting that Cowboy Bebop was centered around bounty hunters, the showrunner continued to explain that the show would not focus on one single bounty, but dedicate each episode to different villains. He did reassure fans that the story will keep the show’s trio, Spike Spiegel, Julia and Vicious in the spotlight, but the manner in which their stories are told may differ from the anime.
According to Deadline, the two shows will also be joined by three other productions as studio’s are taking advantage of New Zealand’s near to full recovery of COVID-19. The three series’ include Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, Peter Farrelly’s Greatest Beer Run Ever starring The Lord of the Ring’s Viggo Mortensen, and Power Rangers Beast Morphers.
Source: Deadline
