Jan 19 2009Keanu Reeves is a Cowboy Bebopper
THR is reporting Keanu Reeves is attached to play bounty hunter Spike Spiegel, in Fox's live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. This might be considered "bad" news, considering that Reeves is in his mid-40s (the character is 27) and is not a good actor:
wentieth Century Fox is bringing the Japanese anime TV series "Cowboy Bebop" to the big screen, with Keanu Reeves attached to star as a bounty hunter traveling through space in 2071.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.
Peter Craig is writing the script.
Oh, well. I guess the conversion of a beloved anime into a cash-grab won't be perfect then. There will be this one flaw--that Keanu Reeves is old and not skilled in his craft--and maybe the CGI corgi's expressions will occasionally look unrealistic, but otherwise this will be the exact film of humans pretending to be cartoon characters that everyone never wanted. It's going to rob The Flintstones Viva Rock Vegas of that title before you can recall the full name of The Flintstones Viva Rock Vegas.
Thanks to all the people who sent this in, and sorry for taking to long to get to it. Don't worry--I still care.
Reader Comments
1. Sub-Zero - January 19, 2009 10:38 AM
Whoa.
2. Sithlord - January 19, 2009 10:39 AM
lol............you said bebopp
3. Thrasher - January 19, 2009 10:42 AM
DO NOT WANT.
4. Alvaro - January 19, 2009 11:05 AM
Wow, these are OLD NEWS!
5. Magget - January 19, 2009 11:07 AM
Seriously. Keanu Reeves. They couldn't get anyone better? I wouldn't let him act in my brothers christmas play.
6. NOOOOOOOO! - January 19, 2009 11:30 AM
NOOOOOOOOO!
7. Matt - January 19, 2009 11:38 AM
Yeah this is bad news :( But...Im not giving up hope yet. I wanna see who their gonna bring on For Jet, Faye and Ed. Hopefully they dont use a CGI Corgi...I will be pissed on that. Also if they keep the "theme" of Cowboy Bebop as close to the original as possible then it still might be good. I want a film noir touch, jazz and blues music, and great writing. Only time will tell I guess....
8. Matt - January 19, 2009 11:43 AM
Well just came across this so my hopes for a good film went up a few more notches:
Sunrise president Kenji Uchida, the TV series' director of animation, Shinichiro Watanabe, and series writer Keiko Nobumoto will serve as associate producers.
At least they are involved somewhere....I dont think they will let fox fuck it up.
9. pete - January 19, 2009 11:59 AM
who care if keanu is in his mid 40's, its not like realistically you can tell how old an anime character is to begin with. thats why its called "acting"......
but honestly i cant see how he might be able to portray spike, his personality is a bit too mellow for a spike like performance.
10. Leg3nd - January 19, 2009 12:01 PM
STOP DESTROYING MY CHILDHOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11. Photoshop Police - January 19, 2009 12:12 PM
Keanu's "attached" to the project?!?!?
Well, somebody UNATTACH him! ... like FRICKIN NOW!
Ted Theodore Point Break Neo Logan is NOT, I repeat NOT acceptible casting for Spike!
Look, I don't hate Keanu Reeves, but let's face it; he's not right for this.
Anyone who's watched Bebop knows this would be a serious mistake.
List of people who probably aren't right for the role either, but would be better casting for Spike than Keanu
(in no particular order):
Hank Azaria (the guy who does simpsons voices and was in Godzilla, he's got the right look and voice, probably too old)
Matt Damon (right voice, not tall or lanky enough, better actor than Keanu)
Ed Norton (he's got the lanky thing down, voice is right, can possibly act like a badass when he's not big and green or a soap manufacturer, also gettin up there in years)
Leonardo DiCaprio (ok, he's not really right for this part either, but he's better than Keanu for this)
OK, I'm sure there's some young 20-something actors out there that would be perfect for this, but I can't think of them right now.
Even more important would be the casting of Faye Valentine.
There's a number of model/actresses who could fit the bill (Vanessa Marcil comes to mind), but they need to be GOOD AT ACTING! HOLLYWOOD, ARE YOU LISTENING?!?!? THEY NEED TO BE BELIEVABLE, not just hot!
12. James - January 19, 2009 12:26 PM
The last time this movie was mentioned on this blog, I made the following comment:
"James - July 24, 2008 2:56 PM
Looks like [Erwin Stoff] produced a whole lot of Keanu Reeves movies - Day the Earth Stood Still, Scanner Darkly, The Lake House, Constantine, The Matrix, The Replacements, Devil's Advocate, Chain Reaction, and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
If Spike is played by Keanu Reeves, I will be very, very upset."
I hate it when I'm right.
13. sully - January 19, 2009 12:28 PM
@1, which movie is that from? I know he says it in a movie.... oh, wait.... I think it's all his movies. Nevermind.
14. squeehunter - January 19, 2009 12:36 PM
He's not a bad actor but this role definetly doesn't fit him.
15. DO NOT WANT - January 19, 2009 12:37 PM
What's next? Leo DiCaprio playing Kaneda in a live action version of AKIRA?
oh shit... yeah it is next... damn it!
i agree with Leg3end.... "STOP DESTROYING MY CHILDHOOD!"
16. Riley - January 19, 2009 12:45 PM
Worst news ever.
17. sal - January 19, 2009 3:16 PM
^ This is the smartest thing I've heard all day. :( This movie is going to blow hard from that news alone. Thanks for ruining my favorite anime Hollywood.
18. jesseTheKid - January 19, 2009 4:54 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
19. Jaine - January 19, 2009 6:18 PM
but who will play Ed?!?!?!?!
20. Duke - January 19, 2009 7:39 PM
Keanu Reeves is not a good choice for any role, especially since his performance here will probably rape our collective early-teen-hoods. Go back to feeding Napolean ice cream.
21. J - January 19, 2009 8:31 PM
NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
22. Mal - January 19, 2009 9:06 PM
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Patchworkhero/1232332749394.jpg
Just sayin'.
23. Joshua Simone - January 19, 2009 9:52 PM
I wonder if Hollywood has no imagination? I mean Keanu is in Johnny Mnemonic, then Matrix comes out....lets get Keanu to play that role since that is what he did in the last one, Cowboy Bebop... hmm Keanu again!
I mean he is not that bad of an actor, i like Johnny Mnemonic, Matrix, The Replacements, The Devil's advocate, and Dracula. But come on!!!! Bring some new talent into the picture! shit!
Also the biggest thing i wonder about is who in the hell is Peter Craig? Anyone read any of his works or seen any screenplays of his?
I guess i will decide on whether or not to see this based on who directs it and whoever is cast for Faye...
Oh Hollywood, why don't you do anything good anymore, well back to my Mad Max movie! Go Road Warrior go!
24. DAQ - January 20, 2009 5:12 AM
You know what, I wanna see this. ^-^
25. Lexx - January 20, 2009 9:56 PM
OMG, is there anything more ridiculous than fanboys overreacting? Nope. You guys are idiot. The rest of the cast wasn't announced yet nor it's director. They are more important than Keanu as Spike isn't all that deep, you know. He looks bored the whole time and is sullen and a great fighter, exactly like Keanu. Both even share the same looks. And Keanu is 44? He looks at least 15 years younger and probably looks younger than the fat asses commenting here right now.
26. Clintzilla - January 20, 2009 11:18 PM
WHYYYYY!
I am not a fanboy but come on! also Magget said I wouldn't let Keanu act in my brother's christmas play that is one of the funniest things I have ever read.
I don't hate Keanu I just want someone who wouldn't bring with him the preconceptions of Neo, or Bill.
I hope this isn't for sure.
DBZ is already wrecked.
Now I know why Japan Animates these movies.
27. Sammie - January 21, 2009 6:16 AM
DBZ seems to suck because, lets be real, that thing is RIDICULOUS. That anime would never look great live action, the visuals are too over the top. And for the fights, the most perfect DBZ style fights were in Matrix Revolutions. As for Bebop, it IS a drama and the fights are real! The characters aren't over stylish and can be played live action. I am sorry you guys are blind, but Spike and Keanu are almost the same thing: sullen, quiet, witty sometimes, with a lot going through their heads. And they fight very well. Bebop fans should be happy that Keanu and Sunrise are on board, because they like the anime, Keanu loves anime. IMO the geek fans doesn't even deserve a good movie, they should cast Shia LaBeouf as Spike (nononononono) and Paris Hilton as Faye and make a lot of money, maybe fans would realize the difference between serious people taking over a project and people just wanting to mess and make a buck.
28. Ms. + - January 22, 2009 2:13 PM
:|
29. Ronny - January 26, 2009 12:42 AM
this is just wrong. there is no and i mean no excuse for something like this. already they are f***** up another movie for the sake of money. when will they understand that they will get their money if it is done rite. i say this because the number of anime fans and junkies out there will be more than happy to watch the hell out of this movie. i can tell you rite now if they do it rite ill actually go and watch it in the theaters. rather than boot legging it off of the internet.
30. muiredach - February 17, 2009 1:37 AM
Keanu was good as mr anderson, but not as lively as spike is. I've been watching Bebop on ABC2 and spike has more life in him the i think keanu can bring
31. J-Red - March 2, 2009 5:02 PM
I agree with muiredach. I think Keanu Reeves is a hard working actor who can fit certain roles very well. I don't think this is one of those roles. I've only seen 3 episodes thus far, but I know that Spike is more of a joker, maybe like Spiderman (not from the movies) or Deadpool. Hey there's an idea... Ryan Reynolds as Spike! Hollywood? Listening? Give Reeves a more fitting role! Like Saito Hajime from Rurouni Kenshin. Wait, Hollywood, DON'T do Kenshin. PLEASE.
Maybe Ziggy From Xenosaga. That would make a good movie! As long as Freddy Highmore isn't Jr. *shudders at the thought*
32. maria - July 6, 2009 10:26 PM
PLEASE DON´T!!!
keanu bad!!!
let´s hope they decided to do another matrix or something and he has to quit the proyect
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