Cowboy Bebop's return as a live-action Netflix series won't be entirely the same as the anime, according to showrunner Andre Nemec. In a new interview with alongside Spike Spiegel actor John Cho, Nemec revealed that the live-action series will be "an expansion to the canon" set in the anime.
"I think to just redo the anime will leave an audience hungry for something that they already saw. The anime did an amazing job. We don't need to serve the exact same meal," said Nemec. "I think it would have been disappointing if we did."
The show will still get the broad strokes of the anime correct: the Earth will have suffered some terrible calamity in the past, leading humanity to venture out into space to find new homes. This mass migration turns the solar system into a wild west of sorts, with crime running rampant ⛎🎐and leading to a bounty system where anyone can turn in criminals for cash rewards.
Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, captain of the Bebop freighter, eventually meet former criminal-turned-bounty hunter Faye Valentine and combine forces to survive the harsh realities of the far-flung future. That said, the show will "dig out deeper histories” behind each character as well as “answer som🔜e of the questions that the anime leaves you with."
As for Cho, we found out that he actually grew out his h🐻air for the role because he "really disliked the idea of a 💎wig."
"Have you ever worn one? I'm just so aware of wigs," Cho said. "I said, 'I really want it to be my own hair.' It was a kind of a struggle to grow it out. It went through some really awkward phases."
Cho eventually got his new do under control. When the first teasers were revealed in July and July, people were so impressed that it caused Cho’s hair to trend on Twitter. "People were texting me, 'FYI, your hair is trending on Twitter.' I did think it was a joke," he said.
Cowboy Bebop arrives on Netflix on November 19. For everything we know so far, check out our previous coverage here.