The latest trailer for Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop remake has avoided one of the biggest issues in franchise remakes, building hope that the new series could actually be great. Helmed by André Nemec, the new show stars John Cho as Spike Spiegel, Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, and Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine. Cowboy Bebop is scheduled to release on Netflix streaming on November 19, 2021.
In recent years, there have been a number of prominent live-action anime remakes on Netflix streaming, with beloved series like Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Death Note all being reimagined. While those adaptations have displayed a range in quality, most of them have been seen as unnecessary at best and straight-up bad at worst. Cowboy Bebop is getting more of a marketing push than any of Netflix’s previous live-action anime reboots, but many viewers of the original show have expressed understandable concerns that the new series will fall into the same traps as the streamer’s previous adaptations and remakes.
Fortunately, the latest trailer for Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop remake has assuaged many of those worries. The stylish, colorful aesthetic and creative editing of the trailer beautifully reflect the animated brilliance of the original Cowboy Bebop, foreshadowing a show that, hopefully, will pay homage to its predecessor while also embracing the unique opportunities of live-action. Even more important than the visual style, however, is the overall tone of Netflix’s new Cowboy Bebop trailer. Some fans have been concerned that the Netflix series would lean fully into the darker parts of Cowboy Bebop – a trend in western adaptations of anime – and neglect the fun, quirky, comedic energy that makes the original such a joy to watch. Thankfully, that quippy, pulp fiction tone is fully present in the new trailer, with some classic bickering between the three main characters and even a funny nod to Spike’s insatiable appetite for noodles.
Part of the original Cowboy Bebop anime's appeal is its ability to leap between silly storylines and heavy emotional moments, and it looks like Cho, Shakir and Pineda could nail that balance. The new Cowboy Bebop trailer still has hints of the show’s more serious plotlines, such as a gorgeously shot glimpse of Spike’s rival Vicious, accompanied by the haunting song “Green Bird” from the original anime. Where other remakes are often concerned with creating a more realistic atmosphere or world in a live-action remake, it's clear the Cowboy Bebop live-action remake's intention is to do anything but, and this should only benefit it majorly in the long run.
Obviously, Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop remake still has a lot to prove. A strong trailer is a good start, but it doesn’t guarantee a perfect adaptation. Regardless of the objective quality of the new show, many will still prefer the original anime – a masterpiece that will endure regardless of the reception to the remake, and which can’t truly be recreated. If Cowboy Bebop really nails the tone hinted at in the trailer, however, blending comedy and silliness with carefully selected moments of seriousness – and if its as visually creative as the trailer is all the way through – it could finally deliver a live-action anime remake worth talking about.