Cowboy Bebop Creator & John Wick Director Are About to Drop the Most Awaited Anime of 2025

Cowboy Bebop by Shinichiro Watanabe is something of a legend. The anime series debuted in 1998 and immediately received high ratings and a cult status.

In 2021, the project received a live-action adaptation. Netflix took over the production, but it didn't work out: three weeks after the release, the streaming announced its cancelation.

Shinichiro Watanabe's New Project Is Already on Its Way

Apparently, that's why it was decided to use the potential of Cowboy Bebop in a different way. Now the producers turned to the creator of the project and not to its plot. Shinichiro Watanabe, the director and screenwriter of Cowboy Bebop, directed a new anime series called Lazarus, which will be released very soon.

In this title, everything is according to the maestro's style: an original plot, a unique setting and a lot of jazz.

What Will Lazarus Be About?

The series is set in 2052. The plot revolves around a Nobel Prize-winning neurobiologist who develops a drug called Hapna.

It supposedly cures all diseases, but has an unexpected side effect: it causes death three years after it is first used. As more and more customers begin to die, a special team of agents is created to deal with the situation.

As Watanabe himself admitted in an interview with AnimeNewsNetwork, the events of Lazarus take place in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Space Dandy.

Chad Stahelski Designed the Action Scenes for Lazarus

Lazarus attracts not only with the name of the great anime master among the creators, but also with the participation in the project of Chad Stahelski – the director of all John Wick films. Stahelski designed the action sequences in the anime.

The original plan of the creator of Cowboy Bebop was to find out how Stahelski and his team create such spectacular and impressive action scenes in order to repeat the same style in his own series.

Shinichiro Watanabe feared that the director would simply turn him down due to his busy schedule, but things turned out quite differently.

Not only did Chad Stahelski not turn down the iconic Japanese animator, he offered his help on a completely pro-bono basis. Chad admitted that he has been inspired by Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop for many years, so he is only happy to work with Watanabe.

Lazarus Follows in the Musical Tradition of Other Outstanding Projects by the Japanese Master

Shinichiro Watanabe's works are very musical. For the Samurai Champloo soundtrack, he invited lo-fi hip-hop producer Nujabes, and for Cowboy Bebop – the Seatbelts, a specially assembled jazz band led by the famous Yoko Kanno.

The Lazarus soundtrack will mix jazz and electronic music. Several avant-garde musicians have been invited for the soundtrack. Kamasi Washington, known for his work with Kendrick Lamar, is responsible for the jazz, and Bonobo and Floating Points are responsible for the electronics.

Lazarus Release Date & Streaming Platform

Lazarus will premiere on Adult Swim on April 5th during the Toonami block. The title will be available for streaming on Max the following day.