John Cho Finally Breaks Silence On Canceled Sci-Fi Show
Sometimes giving certain mediums the live-action treatment doesn't go that. John Cho finally opened up about his canceled Netflix show.
This article is more than 2 years old
Cartoons, films, anime, and more have been long involved in the live-action treatment. While some live-action iterations have gone over well among fanbases, some just don’t cut it in terms of success and overall acceptance. One of those examples existed in turning one of the most beloved anime into a live-action series. Cowboy Bebop lasted only one season on Netflix before the streaming platform pulled the plug on the sci-fi show. While the overall opinion seems to be divided on the show, it was a bit sad to see canceled. Especially considering the high popularity of the show’s star, John Cho. The show was canceled in December, Cho hadn’t commented on that fact. He recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter, where he talked about life, his career, and the cancelation.
According to John Cho, “I put a lot of my life into it.” Cho had gone through a lot to make sure the show was a success. That includes going through an injury, taking a year off because of the injury, getting surgery, and returning to finish the show. He also had to fly to New Zealand to film, and he moved his entire family there. He added, “It was just a huge event in my life and it was suddenly over. It was very shocking and I was bummed. But I was very warmed by the response.” The overall response was positive in his eyes and that is what truly matters. He is a beloved actor when it comes down to it, so fans were likely hoping for the longevity of the series. Sometimes it’s just too hard to carry over a special animated show into a live-action format.
Cowboy Bebop was initially created as an anime that came out in 1998. The show was limited in nature, only containing 26 episodes, and airing for a mere 11 months, but the response was massive. The show takes place in the year 2071 when the world has been cast out into the stars. Colonies appear everywhere on rocky planets where crime rates are rampant, and the Inter Solar System Police hire outside forces to help wrangle criminals. The follows the life of Spike Spiegel and Jet Black as they work as futuristic bounty hunters otherwise known as “cowboys.” The ship they use to fly throughout the universe is known as the Bebop. They meet a host of other characters including Faye Valentine and Crazy Ed, and a corgi named Ein. While the anime is widely regarded as one of the best, the Netflix show just didn’t have that same spark. However, John Cho was still accepted as the titular hero, Spike Spiegel.
With how John Cho describes his experiences, it is even sadder that Cowboy Bebop was canceled after only one season on Netflix. Although the critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is 44% and an audience score of 59%, it could have still been given a chance to rebound itself. Sometimes only giving a show one season isn’t enough to allow itself to iron out the wrinkles. The same could have been said about Space Force, but Netflix gave that one another shot. We all wish Mr. Cho the best in his future endeavors and respect him for giving this live-action anime such a fighting chance.
