Whether you like it or not, a live adaptation of the anime Cowboy Bebop is in talks to be a Hollywood movie. It won’t be in the works for some time, but that hasn’t stopped fans from complaining about the main lead going to Keanu Reeves.

Well, I would be one of those people.

I just can’t see him, the actor with the surfer accent, play one of the best anime characters of all time. (This is the fault of Steve Blum for making Spike so damn awesome.) Seeing as Hollywood has yet to fully prove themselves capable of adapting a Japanese franchise, I’ll hold my biased judgment until I see the trailer. In the mean time, let’s have some fun. Movie sites love to play casting director with actors on certain franchises. Why not us? Here are some Hollywood actors I would like to see take on the Cowboy Bebop roles.

Jet Black

Jet is probably the easiest to cast out of the other characters from the series. I was trying to wrap my brain around who should play who, though a few names came naturally to mind when it came to Jet Black. Someone with a kind, brotherly personality… or at least can act that way. Though the skill of voice actors create a biased requirement for an actor, Jet does not need to have a deep voice but it would ease many fans if he did (including me). The actor has to be somewhat muscular and tall. Needs to be visibly older than the lead. What else? Oh, almost forgot. Having some experience with firearms, fake or not, helps a lot too…

Okay so that last one isn’t really needed, but who should be casted to play the “Black Dog” bounty hunter?

Ron Perlman

He has the build for the role (as proven from his Hellboy movies), is tall with the visible age difference from the lead, possess a somewhat similar voice tone that could represent the anime Jet very well, and has some experience with guns…

Fine, ignore the last one. But his experience with heavy makeup and customs makes this role seems perfect, and maybe too easy, for him.

Close Seconds

Micheal Clark Dunncan – The man has the build and the voice for the role. His skin color isn’t an issue, but his acting ability is.

Laurence Fishburne – Morpheus could be a great Jet. He is muscular, though not too much, has a mentor-type voice, has great acting skills, and knows how to use a gu… nevermind. But knowing Keanu has the lead role, I feel it ruins my perception of him as that character (brings back memories of the Matrix, the two bad ones mostly). Plus I think Fishburne would out-act Keanu, which is a bad sign for the movie.

Faye Valentine

Now this is where it gets tricky. I’ve seen a lot of sites with their dream cast for Faye and it’s always some hot chick. As if any hot chick can play the great Faye Valentine. I don’t even think Jessica Alba nor Megan Fox can touch this chick. But if that’s what they want then fine, but I like my movies with depth, style, and substance, not just substance. Faye is at first some hot chick with a gun, but there is more to her than that. She has attitude, sex appeal, and kicks ass without the help of a male character. For those who know her back story, you know she isn’t just eye-candy (though she really is). She is a well rounded character along with the others. The actress of choice would have to be…

Eliza Dushku

Though most of her work is seen on TV, she still proves to be a worthy actor to take on the role of Faye. Her Faith character from Buffy proved she can take care of herself with an attitude to match her fighting style. The girl can take care of herself. And she has the obvious trait of Faye’s, ahem…

She is gorgeous.

Close Second

Emily Blunt – Gorgeous with a hint of bitchy. Though I haven’t seen her in movies where she beats people down, she was offered the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2. Too bad Fox forced her to take a role in a Jack Black movie instead.

Carla Gugino – She covers the three things I listed, but I’m actually tired of seeing her in comic adaptation movies.

Edward

Probably one of the hardest to cast. What makes her literally stand out in the anime is her skin color, though it shouldn’t be a requirement for the actor to have. What should be required is her personality: free spirit, hyperactive, and lovable. That is the essence of Ed.

Oh, and it would help is the actor looked like or can pass off as a teen.

Tie: Ellen Page or Abigail Breslin

I didn’t think it was possible to find an actor to take on Ed. The main reason being I didn’t know a lot of “children” actors. Yet I found two who I believe to fit in Ed’s shoes. Page is a talented actor who knows how to act crazy (ever seen Hard Candy). I think she can tackle Ed’s mannerisms while passing off as a youngster. She is pretty small, about 5 feet tall if I’m not mistaken. Plays a lot of teenager roles, which helps in this case. Juno was a big stepping stone for her and convinces me she can do it.

Though don’t count Breslin out. Unlike Page, Breslin is a teen. She is around the same height as Page and pretty small too. Her role in Little Miss Sunshine makes an interesting comparison to Ed, though I’m sure she can carry on the role of Ed separate from the two.

Spike Spiegel

THE MAIN ATTRACTION. The lead. The charisma. The man. Spike is…

Keanu Reeves…

So disappointing. But seeing as Reeves has a lot to live up to, let us point him in the right direction:

1.) PRACTICE IN THE COOLEST VOICE POSSIBLE! You can blame Steve Blum for that.
2.) I know you know Kung Fu, but watch some Bruce Lee movies too!
3.) Start smoking.
4.) Practice your looks, please.
5.) Dress to impress.
6.) Though I would like to see it, no fuzzy hair. Short works fine for you.
7.) Practice being lazy, though in a cool way. (That is the hardest description to depict.)
8.) If all else fails, think “What would Swayze (RIP) do?“

Alright, now for my pick of who should have gotten the role.

James Franco

The guy can act; he has the charm down (unless he’s goofing off on Funnyordie.com); and he looks almost like Spike. Similar body type, frizzy hair, tall. What else can I say? This was Spike Spiegel. *sigh*

Close Second

Hugh Jackman – Like I said, I was having a hard time thinking of who should play Spike. Jackman probably would make a good alternative, but he’s Wolverine. He already has a cool character on his resume. DID YOU READ THAT REYNOLDS?!

I would have put Ryan Reynolds in the slot of close second, but he has got TWO superheroes on his resume. Why the hell should he be Spike when Deadpool and Green Lantern are calling him?

Well, that’s the end of it. If you disagree with my picks, or have picks of your own, leave a comment.