Shinichirō Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop features some of the most iconic and beloved characters in anime: Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Jet Black and Edward.
So, the makers of the Netflix live-action version certainly had their work cut out when it came to casting actors to play the bounty hunters.
Here's your guide to the actors starring in Netflix's Cowboy Bebop.
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Spike Spiegel
Spike is the leader of the Bebop crew. A former hitman for the Red Dragon Syndicate, he left the organization and became a bounty hunter alongside Jet Black.
He is played by John Cho, who is no stranger to sci-fi reimaginings after taking on the role of Sulu—George Takei in the original series—in the Star Trek reboot franchise.
Cho is also known for his appearances in the Harold & Kumar films alongside Kal Penn and for independent movies such as Columbus and Searching.
Jet Black
Jet is the owner of the Bebop ship who works closely with Spike on missions. He is a former investigator in the Intra Solar System Police and became a bounty hunter after losing his arm when his partner betrayed him.
Mustafa Shakir plays Jet in the live-action remake. He previously starred in the second season of Netflix's Luke Cage as John "Bushmaster" McIver.
Faye Valentine
Faye joins the Bebop crew after crossing paths with Spike and Jet on bounty-hunting missions. She appears to be around 23 years old but is actually aged 77—and spent more than five decades in a cryogenic sleep.
Daniella Pineda plays Faye and is best known for her role as Sophie Deveraux in The Originals.
Vicious
As the name suggests, Vicious is the main antagonist of the series and Spike's sworn enemy. The pair were friends in the Red Dragon Syndicate but their relationship went awry after Spike had an affair with Vicious' girlfriend Julia.
Alex Hassell portrays Spike's arch-nemesis. The actor previously appeared in Amazon Prime Video's The Boys as superhero Translucent and is also in Joel Coen's new film The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Julia
Julia is also a member of the Red Dragon Syndicate and became romantically involved with Spike during their time in the organization.
Spike was so enamoured with Julia he even offered to desert the group so they could elope, despite this being an offence punishable by death.
The character is played by Elena Satine, who previously appeared in Revenge and the 2017 Twin Peaks series.
Cowboy Bebop will be released on Netflix on November 19.
Netflix's long awaited live-action version of Cowboy Bebop is finally here, putting fan-favourite actor John Cho centre-stage as he takes on the iconic role of Spike Spiegel.
Previous attempts at anime adaptations by Western studios have ended disastrously, so it's understandable that there's been a bit of apprehension towards this latest effort.
Alas, as our Cowboy Bebop review explains, there are definitely some issues with this show, so it remains to be seen whether Cho's natural charisma will be enough to bag it a second season.
Still, sci-fi fans drawn in by its fun premise and larger than life characters may find some fun here; if you're on the fence about watching, our spoiler-free character breakdown below might help with your decision.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Cowboy Bebop cast.
John Cho plays Spike Spiegel
NetflixWho is Spike Spiegel? Spike is a bounty hunter who makes a living, along with the rest of the Bebop crew, by tracking down criminals and cashing in the reward. The work has seen him create several enemies, most notably his arch-nemesis, Vicious. Luckily, he's good in a fight.
What else has John Cho been in? Cho rose to prominence with comedic roles in the American Pie and Harold and Kumar movies. He went on to blockbuster roles in 2009's Star Trek and its two sequels, while he found further success in the lead of high-concept thriller Searching. On the small screen, he is known for FlashForward, Sleepy Hollow and The Exorcist.
Mustafa Shakir plays Jet Black
NetflixWho is Jet Black? Jet Black is the captain of the Bebop and a close ally to Spike, having worked alongside him for some time. On one such mission, he lost his arm and has since replaced it with a high-tech prosthetic.
What else has Mustafa Shakir been in? Shakir played the villainous Bushmaster in Marvel's Luke Cage, also on Netflix, while he has made other appearances in The Deuce, American Gods and Jett.
Daniella Pineda plays Faye Valentine
NetflixWho is Faye Valentine? Valentine is a fellow bounty hunter who Spike and Jet encounter, when she is awoken from suspended animation after 54 years. She is running from debts owed to dangerous individuals from her reckless gambling habit, so she could bring yet more trouble their way.
What else has Daniella Pineda been in? Pineda broke out in the cast of Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals, later securing roles in Anna Friel drama American Odyssey and Netflix's What/If. She also appeared in 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and will reprise her role in its upcoming sequel, Dominion.
Elena Satine plays Julia
NetflixWho is Julia? Julia is a cunning and deadly woman who both Spike and Vicious pine for.
What else has Elena Satine been in? Satine has appeared in several high-profile television shows including Revenge, Twin Peaks and 24: Legacy. She has also had several comic book roles, playing Mera in Smallville, Lorelei in Agents of SHIELD, and Dreamer in X-Men spin-off The Gifted.
Alex Hassell plays Vicious
NetflixWho is Vicious? Vicious is Spike's arch-nemesis. Once upon a time, the two worked closely together, but an epic falling out turned them into bitter rivals, with Vicious aligning himself with the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate.
What else has Alex Hassell been in? Hassell has appeared in several British television shows including Miranda, Silent Witness and Grantchester. He has gained international attention for his roles in anthology drama Genius and Amazon Prime Video's The Boys, where he played corrupt "supe", Translucent. He will next be seen in Joel Coen's hotly anticipated drama The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Tamara Tunie plays Ana
NetflixWho is Ana? Ana owns an underground jazz club frequented by Spike, to whom she has become a mother figure.
What else has Tamara Tunie been in? Tunie played Dr Melinda Warner in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, appearing across numerous seasons of the procedural drama. Her other recent projects include Blue Bloods, Better Call Saul and Black Earth Rising.
Mason Alexander Park plays Gren
NetflixWho is Gren? Gren is a musician who performs at Ana's club and works closely with her to keep the lights on.
What else has Mason Alexander Park been in? Park has performed in several stage productions, and will soon be seen as Desire in Netflix's adaptation of The Sandman.
Geoff Stults plays Chalmers
Phillip Faraone/NetflixWho is Chalmers? Chalmers was formally partnered up with Jet, but the two drifted apart when he decided to join up with the Intra Solar System Police (or ISSP).
What else has Geoff Stults been in? Stults has had major roles in several American dramas including 7th Heaven, The Finder, and Grace and Frankie. In 2018, he appeared opposite Chris Hemsworth in the action film 12 Strong.
Rachel House plays Mao
Rachel House at The World Premiere of Marvel Studios' "Thor: Ragnarok" at the El Capitan Theatre Rich Polk/Getty Images for DisneyWho is Mao? Mao is a formidable crime boss and head of the White Tigers family.
What else has Rachel House been in? House is known for her collaborations with Taika Waititi, having appeared in Eagle vs Shark, Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok, where she plays The Grandmaster's right-hand woman, Topaz. On the small screen, she featured in hard-hitting Netflix drama Stateless, which also featured Yvonne Strahovski and Cate Blanchett.
- Read more: Where’s Ed in Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop?
Cowboy Bebop is available to stream on Netflix. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.