Netflix starts filming live-action Cowboy Bebop series!

The streaming apocalypse is coming, and Netflix had better be ready. A lot of the shows that Netflix depends on to draw in casual viewers — stuff like Friends and The Office — are going elsewhere are companies like Disney, Apple, NBC and more ready their own services, and its going to have to make a bevy of high-quality original content to make up for it.

Among its upcoming offerings is a live-action version of the beloved late ’90s anime Cowboy Bebop, about a rag-tag band of mercenaries hunting bounties and getting into trouble in the deepest reaches of space.

Filming on the show has officially started, announced with a video featuring the most important character: Ein the super-intelligent Corgi.

On the original show, Ein is genetically modified to be super-smart, occasionally helping the gang with their hunts and heists. I’m glad to see he’ll be played a real dog rather than a glob of CGI. Also in the video are cast members  John Cho (as lead character Spike Seigel), Mustafa Shakir (Spike’s partner-in-crime Jet Black), Daniella Pineda (as the mysterious Faye Valentine) and Alex Hassell (as Spike’s arch-enemy and former partner Vicious).

What we don’t see in this video is anyone playing Ed, the young fun-loving hacker and the fourth main member of the team. Ed is reportedly part of the show, but we haven’t heard about an actor yet.

RELATED PRODUCT

Monopoly Stranger Things Edition

Buy Now!

Buy Now!

Anyway, Netflix has tried making live-action versions of anime before, most notably with the 2017 Death Note movie, but it didn’t go very well. Cowboy Bebop is beloved by fans and pretty down to earth so far as anime is concerned, so hopefully Netflix will have better luck with it.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels