Anime fans will have to wait a little longer for Netflix’s newest live-action anime adaptation. Production on Cowboy Bebop has been suspended after one of the leads suffered an injury on set.
According to a report from Deadline, John Cho, the lead set to play Spike Spiegel, suffered a debilitating knee injury while on set in New Zealand. While details of the accident are still mostly unknown, it was described as a “freak accident that happened on the last take of a routine and well-rehearsed scene”. The injury, which will require surgery and months of rehabilitation, will set back the show’s production for seven to nine months.
Despite this major setback, it seems that the producers at Netflix are bound and determined to keep Cho in the lead and are willing to wait until he is fully recovered to begin again. A Netflix representative stated, “Our thoughts are with John, and he has our complete support as he recuperates from this injury.”.
Cowboy Bebop is a classic, space-western anime that developed a bit of a cult following after it was released in the late 90s. It follows a ragtag group of bounty hunters, Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed, and their loyal canine companion Ein, in the year 2071. But this gritty anime is much, much more than that.
As of this writing, the live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop has yet to receive an official release date or window. In the meantime, the original anime is fully available on Hulu and Funimation’s streaming service for your binging pleasure.
Are you holding out hope that Netflix’s live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop is better than its remake of Death Note? Let us know in the comments below, and keep coming back to The Nerd Stash for all of your nerdy news and needs!