Shinichirō Watanabe, the main director behindCowboy Bebop, joined the late-night television network Adult Swim at New York Comic Con for a surprise screening of his new series,Lazarus. They played the full premiere episode of the series, which features the voices of original Cowboy Bebop stars Koichi Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara. Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA,Lazaruswill premiere on Adult Swim in 2025, and you’re able to watch the newly released trailer below:
Watanabe and Adult Swim have been a match made in heaven for years now, as the network was a frequent distributor of Watanabe’s various projects.Cowboy Bebopwas one of the first anime series aired on Adult Swim, for example, and many have credited this partnership for introducing the medium to a new generation of Western fans. Adult Swim’s Toonami block would even broadcast Watanabe’sSpace Dandyexclusively in the United States before airing in Japan the following day, a rare deviation from how international anime broadcasts are typically handled. Based on everything we know so far,Lazaruslooks to be an especially exciting project for anime fans, even if it’s not directly connected to Watanabe’s other shows.
In Lazarus, the Cure Will Kill You
Lazaruswas announced about one year ago at San Diego Comic Con, where the original teaser trailer was screened, but it was just a taste of the expansive, globetrotting sci-fi thriller.Lazarustakes place in the near future, 2052, to be exact. We’re living in a utopia, for the most part, as a miraculous cure-all drug named Hapna has eliminated a majority of humanity’s suffering. Dr. Skinner, the mind behind this miracle cure, has suddenly vanished after the drug is introduced to the populace.
When he reemerges after three years, it is as a devil who brings countless deaths and the end of civilization. Hapna turns out to be a drug that has a fatal, retroactive effect, one that appears three years after first taking it; it was a death-trap for anyone who took it, even once. Humanity will start dying off in 30 days. The only way to save the world is to get at the cure that only Skinner holds. For that, five international agents are assembled into the eponymous “Lazarus” task force in order to locate Skinner, hopefully develop a vaccine, and save humanity before it’s too late.
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The Impressive People Behind Lazarus (Including the Director of John Wick)
Watanabe’s projects are synonymous with style, and luckily,Lazarusdoesn’t disappoint in either the sound or animation departments. Studio MAPPA is handling the animation forLazarus, a name that may excite longtime anime fans.
Previously responsible for visually-stunning anime likeDorohedoroandKakegurui, we can expect MAPPA to deliver the same kind of slick action they’ve excelled at for years. They would even be responsible for two of Watanabe’s non-fantasy projects,Terror in ResonanceandKids on the Slope. Those wholoved the serene soundtrackofCowboy Bebopwill also appreciate the plethora of musical guests on offer, withKamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonoboall having a hand in composing the score.
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Sola Entertainment will also be producing, with their previous body of work also being pretty outstanding. Aside from producing multiple projects attached to video games, likeShenmue: The AnimationandHalo: Legends, they also have a hand in multiple Adult Swim projects. Their upcomingRick and Mortyanime andNinja Kamuiproject likely paved the way forLazarusto come to the late-night network.
If you enjoyed the various action sequences inCowboy Bebop, you’ll also be happy to know that some extra talent is on board in the form ofChad Stahelski. That’s right, the director ofevery film in theJohn Wickfranchiseis attached toLazarus. He’ll be choreographing action scenes for this series, promising a level of intensity not-yet-seen when compared to Watanabe’s previous works. Lazarus premieres in early 2025 on Adult Swim.
