Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Cowboy Bebop canceled official trailer Netflix live-action release date November

Cowboy Bebop Canceled at Netflix After One Season

Netflix thinks it’s time to blow the Cowboy Bebop scene — the streamer has canceled the live-action adaptation of the classic anime after just one season and only a month after release, despite the first season ending on a cliffhanger and the show being a major series for it.

Recommended Videos

The live-actionĀ Cowboy Bebop was incredibly ambitious and off-kilter, which may have helped lead to its being canceled. Netflix has a notorious cancellation policy based on the amount something costs, the amounts of viewers it gets, and the reaction of viewers and critics. That last part was especially bad for the show, which was met tepidly at best and outright hated by many fans of the seminal anime. The series landed 75 million viewers out of the gate but quickly dropped down Netflix’s top 10 list and evidently didn’t hold traction well enough to warrant its budget.

John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, and Daniella Pineda led the series, but it was never able to capture the playful humor, layered characters, or unique look of the anime. Often criticized for being overly faithful without actually understanding what made the show special, it seems to have not been able to keep new fans around, let alone those who were already invested in the series.

Netflix takes big swings like this, however, and its process is to make as much as possible and see what sticks. That’s how you get Squid Game. This probably won’t slow Netflix down in taking risks with genre shows, though having such a well-promoted show flop is never good.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Matthew Razak
Matthew Razak
Matthew Razak is a News Writer and film aficionado at Escapist. He has been writing for Escapist for nearly five years and has nearly 20 years of experience reviewing and talking about movies, TV shows, and video games for both print and online outlets. He has a degree in Film from Vassar College and a degree in gaming from growing up in the '80s and '90s. He runs the website Flixist.com and has written for The Washington Post, Destructoid, MTV, and more. He will gladly talk your ear off about horror, Marvel, Stallone, James Bond movies, Doctor Who, Zelda, and Star Trek.