"There's a draft of the script, but the writer did such a great job [that] in order to make the movie, you would need half a billion dollars," Reeves stated.
It seems that as great as this adaptation of the anime series is, there is still the bottom line for the studio, Fox, to think about.
"So the studio went, 'This movie is fantastic and it would cost half a billion dollars so he's doing a rewrite."
He went on to say:
"The only challenge was to make a satisfying western narrative out of the kind of storytelling that happens. There's a great draft, so we're just trying to pull it back a little bit now."
One of the big titles in anime, Cowboy 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.
The show, which first aired on Tokyo TV and satcaster Wowow during the late 1990s, was strongly influenced by American music, even featuring action sequences -- both space battles and mano a mano -- timed to U.S. melodies.
Cowboy Bebop was released in 2011.
Comments (12)
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stupidfreakyface
Keanu's perfect for the role.
He'll just need to loosen up and not be so serious.
Cuz Spike's a jokester and a smart-ass.
2 years agoby @stupidfreakyfaceFlag
touchworks
Keanu can't do Spike justice, on any level - most notably fighting. I've never once been impressed with any of his fight scenes short of special effects. He's slow, untrained, and unoriginal. As for acting talent? - not even worth mentioning.
Brody couldn't do it either - he's too mellow, doesn't have the intensity/stoicism mix necessary.
James Franco might be able to pull it off... then again he might not. It would depend a good bit upon his fighting skills, which I know little about.
Hartnett would be a good fit I think, though perhaps not perfect.
My top vote by far though would be Clive Owen. He's got the look, the attitude, and at least has the potential for the moves. The only problem is making him look young enough. If they can pull that off, I say he's the clear winner. But hey, thaz me.
2 years agoby @touchworksFlag
The First Avenger: JohnnyBlaze
hmmm not sure.But i do know Brody doesent have the stones to play Spike right. Although he does have the look an sarcasm as you said, which is more then i can say abour Reeves. If i had to choose id go with an unknown. although that would probly make this movie sink worse then with Keanu.
2 years agoby @johnnyblazetb82Flag
-comrade-
Adrian Brody is Spike Spiegel, the lankiness, the burning tongue, the sarcastic eyes with a past.
Who would you pick?
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
The First Avenger: JohnnyBlaze
wow that's one way to stabilize the economy: spend half a billion dollers on an anime property that's only familiar to fans of anime then put the starring role in the hands of Reeves who's acting talents go as far as the word "whoa". anyone remenber Dragonball? of course not.Comrade are you that much of an ass head to say the badass Spike be played by Brody? sure the kid gots the hairstyle but that's as far as it goes.No live Action PLEASE!!!!!
2 years agoby @johnnyblazetb82Flag
-comrade-
I think half-asian, half french would be ideal, but that's a rarity. Josh Hartnett has decent chops, but he's too...American? I mean, what race is a Martian anyway?
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
kupo
Considering that Spike Spiegel's fighting style is inspired by the late Bruce Lee and his appearance is modeled after the late Yusaku Matsuda, Keanu Reeves seems unfit to take on such a character.
Of course, im not implying that it should be an asian actor, but that Keanu simply could not perform this role to it's fullest potential. His fighting is slightly above average at best and his acting isn't all that great either.
And it's also worth noting that his voice couldn't even live up to Steven Blum's vocal performance. I just cannot imagine Keanu's voice as Spike. In fact, I don't even want to.
2 years agoby @moogleFlag
no
WAIT, so the was fantastic and now FOX doesn't want to use 500 million on the movie. SO they are making it sh*ttier?!?!?!?! F*ck Fox, and Keanu better not screw up Spike. Honestly, if this turns out to be a Dragonball Evolution 45 mil budget sh*t fest I'm going to be pissed.
2 years agoby @f-ckyouFlag
-comrade-
It should cost them half a billion dollars. Maybe with such a hefty pricetag they'll think twice about using F*CKING KEANU REEVES to play Spike.
Come on, Adrian Brody IS Spike Speigel.
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
thrashnasty190
Hey JA, i thought i read something on imdb a little while back that was talkin about keanu reeves wanting to star and produce in this cause its one of his favorite animes but things coulda changed since then....anyways if he does it'll prolly be total crap cause its fox and keanu reeves lol
2 years agoby @thrashnasty190Flag
J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
Does any one feel that this story is a load of BS...?
A writer writes a screenplay that he knows will cost a 500million to make but still sends it off, hoping it gets produced?
Sorry the whole concept seems bogus and with the notable fact that Keanu isn't even attached to the project, there seems no reason for KR to get first glances at the screenplay.
It just seems odd and there is just something i don't know iffy about this article
2 years agoby @chronicFlag
Leng T'che
Why? There's no real way to give this series justice with a live action film, especially starting off with Keanu Reeves as Spike. Bad Bad Bad.
2 years agoby @leng-tcheFlag