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Because you asked for it... Keanu Reeves to play Spike Spiegel in COWBOY BEBOP! (Updated)

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Up front, I am not particularly well-versed in anime, so I am the exact wrong person to write this up. I hope Scott Green can come in and spruce up this posting with an actual informed opinion, but I figured I should at least get the conversation started.

Keanu Reeves will topline 20th Century Fox's big screen adaptation of the very popular COWBOY BEBOP series. A relative unknown screenwriter, Peter Craig, is attached to pen the adaptation with Sunrise Inc. (original anime producers) working closely with Fox on the adaptation.

Reeves will play bounty hunter Spike Spiegel.

That's what I know. Maybe it's super great casting, but even though I have no idea what the source material is like, I have a feeling that there might be some... uneasy feelings about this. Right or wrong?

Scott Green here,
The character of Spike Spiegel is that of a noir, tragic hero crossed with an embodiment of Bruce Lee's "like water," with a healthy dose of Monkey Punch's not-so gentlemanly gentleman thief Lupin III. He's haunted by how his previous life within a crime syndicate ended, but he also has full of primal mischief.
A favorite scene from the episode "Gateway Shuffle" involves his partner, ex-cop Jet Black holding a suspect believed to be connected to an ecoterrorist bio-weapon, while speaking to an old contact via video-conference. Meanwhile Spike's found a strange vial. He begins trying to twist it open. He puts it on the ground and begins stomping on it. The suspect really starts sweating. Finally, Spike places it on a shelf, pulls his gun out and shoots off the outer casing.

For the most part, the character has an oceanic disposition; fluid with a lot doing on below the surface.


According to Variety Peter Craig will script the film. Sunrise's Kenji Uchida and Shinichiro Watanabe will serve as associate producers alongside series writer Keiko Nobumoto.

Erwin Stoff will be producing and Joshua Long has been named executive producer.

There's talk that the script is based on the anime's first episode "Asteroid Blues," concerning a the "Red Eye" drug, which speeds up the perception of the user.

*

Because it's ridiculous to expect any perfect anime to film cast translation, my pick for Spike Spiegel is The Long Goodbye era Elliott Gould.




... with Jean-Pierre Melville directing

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I've only seen the movie
by TheAD
Jan 16th, 2009
03:31:20 AM
noooooooo
by Juror Number 8
Jan 16th, 2009
03:31:55 AM
I like Keanu!
by BiggusDickus
Jan 16th, 2009
03:34:19 AM
Would not be surprised if...
by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_loo king_for
Jan 16th, 2009
03:36:37 AM
This isn't right
by hyeguy
Jan 16th, 2009
03:38:26 AM
wait for the bitchin'....
by dalbatron
Jan 16th, 2009
03:39:19 AM
Did we ask for it?
by Nasty_Nick
Jan 16th, 2009
03:41:16 AM
Rather see a third Bill and Ted
by Dingbatty
Jan 16th, 2009
03:57:25 AM
I just died a little....
by Menchekia
Jan 16th, 2009
04:08:50 AM
So long as they cast the right Faye, Jet and Ed..I'm down
by Monkey_King
Jan 16th, 2009
04:11:24 AM
Kate Beckinsale for Faye Valentine...bar none
by Monkey_King
Jan 16th, 2009
04:13:41 AM
isn't this going to backfire?
by BadMrWonka
Jan 16th, 2009
04:20:16 AM
Fffff to the UCK!!!
by Zeotron
Jan 16th, 2009
04:28:53 AM
excellent series
by Obscura
Jan 16th, 2009
04:32:59 AM
Keanu -OKay. Fox - NoWay
by onezeroone
Jan 16th, 2009
04:35:44 AM
Stallone for Jet!!
by BatPsycho
Jan 16th, 2009
04:37:06 AM
I would have had...
by Phalex
Jan 16th, 2009
04:40:04 AM
Spike Spiegel
by louisse
Jan 16th, 2009
04:43:39 AM
It's iffy..
by Ironthorman
Jan 16th, 2009
04:43:43 AM
BatPsycho & Phalex
by ugh
Jan 16th, 2009
04:49:28 AM
This will be the next Aeon Flux
by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_loo king_for
Jan 16th, 2009
04:50:47 AM
No more Keanu Reeves in movies
by JoeSixPack
Jan 16th, 2009
05:04:13 AM
this is not a dream, this is really happening!
by The Amazing G
Jan 16th, 2009
05:04:29 AM
James Franco would have made for a great Spike
by Spifftacular Squirrel Girl
Jan 16th, 2009
05:11:39 AM
Johnny Deep as Ein!!!
by Outlaw
Jan 16th, 2009
05:14:33 AM
what Spifftacular Squirrel Girl said
by The Amazing G
Jan 16th, 2009
05:20:33 AM
Oh No
by LaserPants
Jan 16th, 2009
05:25:09 AM
damn keanu and fox, but please cast Rourke or Perlman as Jet
by hoorah24
Jan 16th, 2009
05:40:00 AM
Kate Beckinsale
by Alientoast
Jan 16th, 2009
05:48:29 AM
Firefly
by Ecto-1
Jan 16th, 2009
05:55:04 AM
Reeves a bad choice for Spike
by brattyben
Jan 16th, 2009
05:59:06 AM
Damn You Michael Bay
by MCMLXXVI
Jan 16th, 2009
06:00:13 AM
I think anime characters have about 1.5 facial expressions...
by JackPumpkinhead
Jan 16th, 2009
06:10:24 AM
Kate Beckinsale!
by LaserPants
Jan 16th, 2009
06:10:39 AM
Rourke for Jet...
by AssassinWithSon
Jan 16th, 2009
06:13:48 AM
I think he's a good fit for Spike, but isn't he a little old?
by Mr Nicholas
Jan 16th, 2009
06:18:05 AM
Terry O'quinn for Jet
by SmallTuna
Jan 16th, 2009
06:32:38 AM
He almost has the look..
by Ironmuskrat
Jan 16th, 2009
06:37:03 AM
yeah I wonder...
by The Amazing G
Jan 16th, 2009
06:44:35 AM
Faye will make or break the movie
by MurderMostFowl
Jan 16th, 2009
06:49:27 AM
Samuel L. Jackson for Jet...Jet Black, baby!
by Cletus Van Damme
Jan 16th, 2009
07:14:47 AM
I like Cowboy Bebop
by Tin Snoman
Jan 16th, 2009
07:14:57 AM
Bruce Lee would've been about the only one i could imagine
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
07:29:55 AM
Oh yeah and Megan Fox for Faye Valentine
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
07:30:45 AM
Billy Bob Thornton for Jet
by Spandau Belly
Jan 16th, 2009
07:30:53 AM
Rourke for Jet, hell yes
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
07:32:24 AM
Keep an eye out...
by Shut the Fuck up Donny
Jan 16th, 2009
07:33:25 AM
Holy shit James Franco as Spike would be awesome
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
07:33:28 AM
Shut the fuck up Donny..
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
07:36:04 AM
And Keanu continues to hypnotize people . . .
by Nice Marmot
Jan 16th, 2009
07:36:32 AM
I think Keanu will work
by D.Vader
Jan 16th, 2009
07:51:28 AM
Keanu is too fucking old to play Spike Spiegel.
by Leafar the Lost
Jan 16th, 2009
07:52:09 AM
Oh Great
by ominus
Jan 16th, 2009
07:59:11 AM
Noodles again?....
by Kid Z
Jan 16th, 2009
07:59:13 AM
the closest you'll get to spike
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
08:04:17 AM
What?
by Tokyo_Drifter
Jan 16th, 2009
08:13:23 AM
Mushrooms
by D.Vader
Jan 16th, 2009
08:14:48 AM
James Franco as spike. Keanu is too old.
by dr sauch
Jan 16th, 2009
08:15:02 AM
keanu really isn't that bad...
by theneonsamurai
Jan 16th, 2009
08:19:10 AM
I just don't knoooow....Keanu?
by conspiracy
Jan 16th, 2009
08:20:46 AM
Honestly, I think it's great casting.
by Fawst
Jan 16th, 2009
08:21:14 AM
Er, I'm thinking Anne Hathaway for Faye.
by Fawst
Jan 16th, 2009
08:22:10 AM
I'm down with James Franco. Good call.
by malificus
Jan 16th, 2009
08:26:27 AM
20th Century Foxs Cowboy Bebop...
by Redfive!
Jan 16th, 2009
08:29:24 AM
A rabid orangutan for Edward
by NinjaRap
Jan 16th, 2009
08:30:56 AM
kanno youko
by conbarba
Jan 16th, 2009
08:43:56 AM
Enough with Fox already!
by Motoko Kusanagi
Jan 16th, 2009
08:48:05 AM
Coolest show of all time
by Robstar
Jan 16th, 2009
09:02:16 AM
plot based on first episode!?
by lex romero
Jan 16th, 2009
09:19:30 AM
Don't you think...
by Anna Valerious
Jan 16th, 2009
09:22:02 AM
Actualy why not a trilogy?
by lex romero
Jan 16th, 2009
09:22:13 AM
Worst casting since Keanu in Constantine!
by Centipede Damascus
Jan 16th, 2009
09:32:34 AM
I'm Ending this Debate Now: Johnny Depp!!!
by victor82
Jan 16th, 2009
09:34:25 AM
Can I get that soundtrack?
by muggsly
Jan 16th, 2009
09:34:48 AM
Oh, and the Casting for Faye Valentine...
by victor82
Jan 16th, 2009
09:38:53 AM
I think Reeves is right for the part
by photoboy
Jan 16th, 2009
09:39:17 AM
Fox WILL fuck this all up.
by Harry Weinstein
Jan 16th, 2009
09:41:48 AM
Keanu Reeves
by victor82
Jan 16th, 2009
09:46:23 AM
Will keanu wear the hair properly?
by Cajunsblues
Jan 16th, 2009
09:47:07 AM
Also...the Opening Credits...
by conspiracy
Jan 16th, 2009
09:49:31 AM
Leafar the Lost
by sokitome
Jan 16th, 2009
09:51:41 AM
Christina Ricci MIGHT have been a good Faye...
by conspiracy
Jan 16th, 2009
09:54:05 AM
Awful choice
by topaz4206
Jan 16th, 2009
09:54:58 AM
cowboy bebop must be stopped face book page
by linwalrd
Jan 16th, 2009
10:02:13 AM
scarlett johansson
by kingoflight
Jan 16th, 2009
10:09:24 AM
Actually, I can live with short Ricci as Faye
by JasonPratt
Jan 16th, 2009
10:15:18 AM
i'm willing to keep an cautious open mind
by mordiceius
Jan 16th, 2009
10:15:20 AM
Reeves + primal mischief == EPIC FAIL!!!
by JasonPratt
Jan 16th, 2009
10:18:35 AM
Hey no worries...
by Frankenbastard
Jan 16th, 2009
10:18:35 AM
PLEASE BOYCOT THIS FILM
by Prague23
Jan 16th, 2009
10:47:22 AM
Cowboy Bebop the Movie
by landocolt45
Jan 16th, 2009
10:47:24 AM
faye valentine
by robosushi
Jan 16th, 2009
10:49:52 AM
Bruce Willis for Jet
by FuziLojak
Jan 16th, 2009
10:59:47 AM
Too Old, Too Inflexible
by Animation
Jan 16th, 2009
11:00:11 AM
It's Fox, soooooo....
by Gabba-UK
Jan 16th, 2009
11:27:45 AM
Bang.
by Sithtastic
Jan 16th, 2009
11:39:43 AM
Just be glad their making it, jesus
by bullet3
Jan 16th, 2009
11:42:46 AM
Keanu could be ok...
by hairlesspet
Jan 16th, 2009
11:50:49 AM
If Keanu's oo fuckin' old, who's supposed to be Spike? Rain from
by NivekJ
Jan 16th, 2009
12:00:53 PM
I didn't ask for Keanu to play Spike
by IAmLegolas
Jan 16th, 2009
12:24:43 PM
Bullet3, "Fully Realized Universe"
by Violet Grey
Jan 16th, 2009
12:25:47 PM
I don't see Scarlett as Faye...She is too Monroe-ish..
by conspiracy
Jan 16th, 2009
12:26:11 PM
Ryan Reynold's
by Chutch
Jan 16th, 2009
12:27:08 PM

by Harry Weinstein
Jan 16th, 2009
12:36:15 PM
This will never get made without changing EVERYTHING.
by I Hope You Die
Jan 16th, 2009
12:49:51 PM
Faye better be a piece of ass
by MattmanReturns
Jan 16th, 2009
12:54:54 PM
I'm sorry but in Megan Fox's defense.
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
12:55:29 PM
Elliott Gould
by MonkeyBoy88
Jan 16th, 2009
12:59:34 PM
The real problem isn't the casting, there's no director right fo
by drturing
Jan 16th, 2009
01:05:16 PM
meh, I'm willing to give him a chance I guess...
by The Amazing G
Jan 16th, 2009
01:09:25 PM
James Franco would be a good choice though...
by The Amazing G
Jan 16th, 2009
01:11:33 PM
Carla's too old.
by MattmanReturns
Jan 16th, 2009
01:14:51 PM
Maybe Rachel Bilson for Faye
by TruPhan
Jan 16th, 2009
01:14:58 PM
Fuck This Movie
by Urge to Kill
Jan 16th, 2009
01:41:23 PM
Keanu's a fine choice
by Movietool
Jan 16th, 2009
01:46:39 PM
Of Course
by loki965
Jan 16th, 2009
02:17:24 PM
but what about the soundtrack?
by punto
Jan 16th, 2009
02:37:11 PM
Movietool...I just might agree with ya here....
by conspiracy
Jan 16th, 2009
02:51:27 PM
Keanu's a puffy choice...
by yomomma
Jan 16th, 2009
03:21:11 PM
Spike had one expression, so
by RockMSockM
Jan 16th, 2009
03:29:37 PM
This won't work and I'll tell you why...
by FlickaPoo
Jan 16th, 2009
03:30:43 PM
KEANU REEVES MADE THIS MOVIE HAPPEN
by DOGSOUP
Jan 16th, 2009
03:36:40 PM
Red Eye is a weak plot
by scorpio2049
Jan 16th, 2009
03:38:32 PM
Dogsoup & Flickapoo
by scorpio2049
Jan 16th, 2009
03:42:29 PM
DieDieDieDieDie
by WarpedElements
Jan 16th, 2009
03:48:06 PM
Reeves isn't right.
by Venardhi
Jan 16th, 2009
04:21:25 PM
FUCK MICHAEL BAY!!!
by Pissed Off And Bitter
Jan 16th, 2009
04:22:39 PM
VIN DIESEL for Jet. STAT.
by halsolo
Jan 16th, 2009
04:30:26 PM
Keanu has begun his slow fade into a buddy picture...
by Leafar the Lost
Jan 16th, 2009
04:59:43 PM
The Hair
by PorkChopXpress
Jan 16th, 2009
05:17:24 PM
Or this one
by PorkChopXpress
Jan 16th, 2009
05:18:54 PM
WTF.
by quamb
Jan 16th, 2009
05:21:07 PM
Such a dumb idea.
by eggart
Jan 16th, 2009
05:53:06 PM
If they end up ditching Keanu, which I doubt,
by hairlesspet
Jan 16th, 2009
05:57:08 PM
Keanu is a cyborg
by question83
Jan 16th, 2009
06:01:46 PM
God DAMN it.
by Pompoulus
Jan 16th, 2009
06:06:22 PM
Please let there be the evolved tofu or whatever it was
by kingoflight
Jan 16th, 2009
06:07:52 PM
James Franco, YES!!! Keanu Reeves??? NNNOOOO!!!!
by TheGhostWhoLurks
Jan 16th, 2009
06:10:08 PM
And PorkChopXpress...
by TheGhostWhoLurks
Jan 16th, 2009
06:15:13 PM
gotta love fox
by Dijjot
Jan 16th, 2009
06:15:48 PM
Kate Beckinsale as Faye Valentine
by Mako
Jan 16th, 2009
06:29:45 PM
I don't know what to think. . .
by ides
Jan 16th, 2009
06:33:04 PM
Yup, Keanu doesn't age.
by buffywrestling
Jan 16th, 2009
06:36:00 PM
Natalie Portman as Faye?
by Sixtyhurts
Jan 16th, 2009
08:31:14 PM
with any luck
by Phategod1
Jan 16th, 2009
09:07:10 PM
FuziLojak nailed it
by Cletus Van Damme
Jan 16th, 2009
10:50:36 PM
Jeff Bridges = Jet
by TruPhan
Jan 16th, 2009
11:16:13 PM
Yoko Kanno must score
by tbransonlives
Jan 17th, 2009
02:00:35 AM
I bet he won't sound like any other character he played before
by Orionsangels
Jan 17th, 2009
03:14:04 AM
He doesn't have to do a thing..
by brokenheadstuff
Jan 17th, 2009
04:52:15 AM
IT'S THE NEXT "THE SPIRIT" - FUCK THEM FOR THIS
by reflecto
Jan 17th, 2009
07:23:11 AM
BTW my choices would have been
by reflecto
Jan 17th, 2009
07:28:25 AM
I have seen both versions of the day the earth stood stil..
by emeraldboy
Jan 17th, 2009
08:10:33 AM
i loved the scenes between
by robamenta
Jan 17th, 2009
10:11:47 AM
Music
by Cajunsblues
Jan 17th, 2009
11:50:44 AM
They threw that scene with mcDonalds..
by emeraldboy
Jan 17th, 2009
02:22:50 PM
Please god I hope AICN calls for a boycott on this one too
by SomaShine
Jan 17th, 2009
04:06:34 PM
Fox will ditch the jazz score and replace it with:
by polyh3dron
Jan 17th, 2009
04:40:11 PM
If Fox replaced Alf Clausen with Hans Zimmer on The Simpsons
by eggart
Jan 17th, 2009
07:53:32 PM
Keanu Reeves perfect choice
by Lornsorrow
Jan 17th, 2009
07:59:10 PM
Lornsorrow, if you think Keanu is PERFECT...
by TheGhostWhoLurks
Jan 18th, 2009
03:30:07 AM
I Agree With A Lot Said Here
by Tokyo_Drifter
Jan 18th, 2009
09:44:08 AM
If everyone else is cast well then I`ll be there
by avenger147
Jan 18th, 2009
08:03:22 PM
Decent cast
by avenger147
Jan 18th, 2009
08:24:50 PM
Top choices for Jet:
by thedarklinglord
Jan 18th, 2009
10:59:48 PM
Keanu should have taken the Leo high road as a Producer...
by hoorah24
Jan 19th, 2009
11:47:48 AM
though I like Megan Fox as Faye - much better fit than Hathaway
by hoorah24
Jan 19th, 2009
12:04:06 PM
AWWW the eternal Keanu bashing...
by RedHHades
Jan 19th, 2009
12:13:13 PM
I meant Dwayne Johnson - The Rock
by RedHHades
Jan 19th, 2009
12:20:17 PM
Keanu lacks charisma.
by thedarklinglord
Jan 19th, 2009
05:21:35 PM
Spike isn't ALL that
by RedHHades
Jan 20th, 2009
12:24:04 PM
Michael Clarke Duncan for Jet!
by Super Rabbi
Jan 21st, 2009
12:08:52 PM

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