We’re going to have to wait a little longer to see Netflix’s adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. Production has been halted for 7-9 months after an on-set knee injury suffered by its lead, John Cho.
Reports describe the injury as a freak accident that happened on the last take of a routine and well-rehearsed scene almost two weeks ago. It requires surgery, for which Cho has been flown back to Los Angeles, and extensive rehabilitation. The production shutdown is expected to last seven to nine months. The new filming schedule will be set once Cho’s prognosis is clear.
Since the injury happened so early into the production, Netflix could’ve easily recast Cho but the streamer is fully committed to having him in the lead role. Following the story breaking, Cho posted a message on Instagram, quoting the great Bruce Lee, thanking fans for their well wishes, and vowing to be “back and flowing in no time”. Here is the message from his Instagram page:
Based on the worldwide phenomenon, Cowboy Bebop is the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of Spike Spiegel (Cho), an impossibly cool “cowboy” (bounty hunter) with a deadly smile, a wry wit and style to spare, and his ragtag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll even save the world — for the right price.
