10 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made
9. Cowboy Bebop
When it comes to anime, Cowboy Bebop is easily one of the most popular series in the West, as the noir space-western aesthetic bridges the divide between cultures. Because the series is so beloved by fans in the West, there has long been speculation about seeing it made into a live-action film.
Rumors of a live-action film began circulating around the Internet in July 2008, and it was believed that 20th Century Fox was in the early stages of development. Producer Erwin Stoff even came out and said the film was being developed, and Keanu Reeves was mentioned as the probable star to take on the role of Spike Spiegel.
Sunrise Animation was attached to ensure a proper translation of their source material into a feature film, and with Peter Craig (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Bad Boys for Life, Top Gun: Maverick) on task as screenwriter, the movie was even set for a release date in 2011.
The project hit the wall in terms of development due to projected costs, which required significant rewrites. The movie slipped into Development Hell, and all development for the project came to a screeching halt. The movie was dead, and while a live-action series began development in 2017, there's nothing on the horizon in terms of a Cowboy Bebop feature film.