Live action Cowboy Bebop movie coming

*Raph's Girl* · 07-23-2008, 03:16 PM

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6571

Quote:

If anybody is in the mood for some exhilarating, long-anticipated, previously-unannounced breaking news about anime series COWBOY BEBOP, iF Magazine has the exclusive scoop for you.

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.”

Before any of you BEBOP fanboys/fangirls get your skivvies in a twist about yet another questionable anime-to-human adaptation (see: DRAGONBALL), iF made sure to get an oath of fidelity to the original material from Stoff.

“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.”

For those skeptical about the casting possibilities, Stoff has the following to say: “Flak about choices is meaningless until people see the movie," he notes. "When people see the movie, then criticism has a place in it.”

Does Stoff think that American audiences that aren’t familiar with the anime will have trouble getting aboard?

“No, I really don’t think they will,” says Scoff. “I think they haven’t [gotten aboard] with the anime because it’s had limited exposure - it’s just been on Adult Swim, and so on. I think the ability to tell this larger frame - the ability to build a world that’s iconically American in its Western nature - I don’t think so at all.”

On the one hand it's FOX, on the other... any movie that has a Corgi is AOK in my book.

*Ninjinister* · 07-23-2008, 05:43 PM

Heard this one before. Let's just hope they have some decent actors in fitting roles this time, if this isn't bs like the last three times a Cowboy Bebop movie was "announced".

Cowboy Rocksteady for a spinoff?

*ToTheNines* · 07-23-2008, 06:17 PM

Normally I condem this kind of stuff, but since the series was so short (26 eps and a movie) I welcome it. Can't wait!

*Spitfire* · 07-23-2008, 09:16 PM

The word "no" comes to mind.

*Voltron* · 07-23-2008, 09:24 PM

Bitchin'. Like real fan. I suppose I'll have to get the box set, now.

Jelly Bean · 07-24-2008, 01:42 AM

oh hahahahaha! and good times where had by all!

I can't wait!

Ra · 07-24-2008, 02:31 AM

Well, I'm interested in this. Cowboy Bebop is awesome.

Zog the Equalizer · 07-24-2008, 03:00 AM

Cowboy Bebop is not only one of the few animes I actually like (I have nothing against the genre, but every few have entertained me other then through nostalgia) It is my favorite anime and one of my favorite shows animated or non. I guess what I'm saying is that this better not suck or I'm going to be sad...Kinda like what's happening to Dragon Ball

*cqb101* · 07-24-2008, 01:04 PM

Cowboy Bebop, if done right, is the kind of thing that should translate extremely well to live action. This could be amazing.

*Spike Spiegel* · 07-25-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Replicant

Cowboy Bebop is not only one of the few animes I actually like (I have nothing against the genre, but every few have entertained me other then through nostalgia) It is my favorite anime and one of my favorite shows animated or non. I guess what I'm saying is that this better not suck or I'm going to be sad...Kinda like what's happening to Dragon Ball

If only the excellent "Big O" anime had more mainstream popularity as well...

poiuytre · 07-25-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

iF made sure to get an oath of fidelity to the original material from Stoff.

I hope they can live up to their claim. I don't think I really need for the series to be turned into a live-action film, but if they can pull it off, I more than welcome it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty McFly

If only the excellent "Big O" anime had more mainstream popularity as well...

Another Big O fan? High-five!

*Drtooth* · 07-25-2008, 10:28 AM

I'm weary of it. Whenever someone says it's not going to suck, we usually wind up with something that does.

Of course, unlike Dragon Ball, a Cowboy Bebop film could work in live action. No talking animals, no high special effects that are easy to screw up...

So, all and all, as long as the guy is a fan of the show, we don't have too much to worry about. just as long as it's cast right and the people playing the characters look like the characters. Something that almost everyone gets wrong (It shoulda been Bob Sagat as Dave Seville!!!)

07-23-2008, 05:43 PM	#2
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	Heard this one before. Let's just hope they have some decent actors in fitting roles this time, if this isn't bs like the last three times a Cowboy Bebop movie was "announced". Cowboy Rocksteady for a spinoff? __________________

07-23-2008, 09:16 PM	#4
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	The word "no" comes to mind. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

07-23-2008, 09:24 PM	#5
Voltron Handsomest Boy in School Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Realm of SJW Posts: 4,642	Bitchin'. Like real fan. I suppose I'll have to get the box set, now. __________________ I AM FOR ACTUAL! . . . and the White Savior. . . and the Right Hand of God. . .

07-24-2008, 02:31 AM	#7
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	Well, I'm interested in this. Cowboy Bebop is awesome. __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

07-24-2008, 03:00 AM	#8
Zog the Equalizer Stone Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 534	Cowboy Bebop is not only one of the few animes I actually like (I have nothing against the genre, but every few have entertained me other then through nostalgia) It is my favorite anime and one of my favorite shows animated or non. I guess what I'm saying is that this better not suck or I'm going to be sad...Kinda like what's happening to Dragon Ball __________________ "Pork rind?" "Pork rind!"

07-23-2008, 06:17 PM	#3
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,364	Normally I condem this kind of stuff, but since the series was so short (26 eps and a movie) I welcome it. Can't wait!

07-24-2008, 01:04 PM	#9
cqb101 Cinephile Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 8,489	Cowboy Bebop, if done right, is the kind of thing that should translate extremely well to live action. This could be amazing. __________________ Facebook

07-25-2008, 10:28 AM	#12
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	I'm weary of it. Whenever someone says it's not going to suck, we usually wind up with something that does. Of course, unlike Dragon Ball, a Cowboy Bebop film could work in live action. No talking animals, no high special effects that are easy to screw up... So, all and all, as long as the guy is a fan of the show, we don't have too much to worry about. just as long as it's cast right and the people playing the characters look like the characters. Something that almost everyone gets wrong (It shoulda been Bob Sagat as Dave Seville!!!) __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]