Netflix's live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop is just a few months away, and John Cho, who is playing the lead role of Spike Spiegel, is speaking out about the role.
When Cho was chosen for the role back in 2019, some fans voiced concerns that Cho is too old to play the show's main character. In the anime, Spike is 27 years old, while Cho turned 49 years old earlier this year.
Now, speaking to Vulture, Cho revealed he was also concerned he was too old to play a character in his mid-20's.
"The biggest fear that I had was I was too old," Cho said. "I knew people were gonna have issues with my age. And I had to get over it. I’m not a person who says age is just a number or whatever. It was gonna be harder — physically."
Still, Cho said he didn't want to let his age stop him from playing a role he wanted to pursue. Cho went on to say his training was rigorous for the show.
"The regimen was to become functionally athletic rather than show-horse athletic. But, yeah, I had to watch what I ate. I did have to take my shirt off in the first episode, which was really stressful."
Even with difficult training and doubts about his casting, Cho says his extra experience will help him bring something to the role he couldn't have provided when he was 27.
"… in terms of my discipline, I am strangely better suited at this age. I don’t think I would’ve done justice to the emotional depth we tried to give Spike," Cho said. "What I’m better at, being older, is showing weakness and vulnerability and love. Those things are more accessible to me. Personally, I’d prefer the version I’m able to do now."
In the interview, Cho also discusses tearing his ACL during filming, which led to a delay in production. Now, the first season has completed filming, and it's coming to Netflix on November 19.
For more, read up on Cowboy Bebop's upcoming prequel novel, which will feature a young Spike.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.