‘Cowboy Bebop’ Not Renewed for Season 2 on Netflix — What Does This Mean for Future Live-Action Adaptations?
Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop debuted on Nov. 19 to an overwhelming number of critical reviews. Just three weeks later, the anime adaptation has been canceled by the streamer. Despite the creators laying the groundwork for season 2, it didn’t take long for Netflix to forego any future for Cowboy Bebop. Does its cancellation bode ill for other live-action adaptations, like the company’s upcoming One Piece series?
Netflix will not move forward with its ‘Cowboy Bebop’
On Dec. 9, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Netflix didn’t plan to move forward with its live-action Cowboy Bebop. Although the adaptation was clearly setting up a second season, the cancellation came rather quickly.
According to THR, the live-action Cowboy Bebop‘s viewing hours dropped by 59 percent during its second week on the platform. Even with a strong — if heavily criticized — opening, that’s a steep fall. The outlet also reports that most series greenlit for second outings don’t dip beneath 60 percent during week two. If that’s the criteria, it seems the anime adaptation just missed the cut.
Of course, there may be more at work than just the show’s overall viewing performance. Did Cowboy Bebop‘s negative reviews destroy any shot at a season 2?
Did critical reviews prevent ‘Cowboy Bebop’ from getting a season 2?
Although Cowboy Bebop‘s viewing hours impacted its chances at a season 2 on Netflix, it’s probably safe to say the negative reviews the series received didn’t help. Before the show even officially premiered, critics ripped into its take on the classic anime. Some suggested it veered too far from the source material, while others felt it didn’t distinguish itself enough.
Whatever their complaints, the show wound up with a 46 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Sadly, its 54 percent audience rating suggests opinions ran negative across the board.
Given all the comparisons to the Cowboy Bebop anime, viewers may have been a bit too harsh on Netflix’s adaptation. Does that mean similar projects are destined to fail?
What does this cancellation mean for Netflix’s other live-action shows?
With live-action adaptations of One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender in the works at Netflix, Cowboy Bebop‘s cancellation may leave a sour taste in anime fans’ mouths. And the 2021 show isn’t the first of its kind to get a bad rap. Netflix’s Death Note received a similar response from audiences, landing even worse scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Of course, that doesn’t mean well-done live-action takes on anime don’t exist. However, the streamer may want to look at its past content to see where it went wrong. With any luck, it’ll learn from those mistakes before churning out future releases.
In the meantime, viewers can decide for themselves if Cowboy Bebop deserved a season 2. The 10-episode series is currently streaming on Netflix.
