In April, an eagerly awaited new release for anime fans hit the screens. The original anime series Lazarus began airing, quickly gaining high ratings. Behind the project are Chad Stahelski, the creator of John Wick, and Shinichirō Watanabe, the mastermind behind iconic anime such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.
This collaboration sparked an intriguing fan theory: that the worlds of Cowboy Bebop and Lazarus are part of a shared universe. As it turns out, the fans were spot on.
Cowboy Bebop and Lazarus Connected
Shinichirō Watanabe officially confirmed that both anime exist within the same universe. According to the timeline, the events of Lazarus take place in 2052, while Cowboy Bebop occurs in 2071.
This time difference makes the appearance of Spike and Jet highly unlikely, as they would be far too young — only 8 and 17 years old, respectively. However, there is one Cowboy Bebop character whose story would seamlessly fit into the new plot: Faye Valentine. Her cryogenic freezing from 2014 to 2068 aligns perfectly with Lazarus's medical theme, where life-extension technology plays a crucial role.
However, no plans for a full-fledged crossover have been announced, so for now, the shared universe remains a "Easter egg" for attentive viewers.
Plot of Lazarus
In Lazarus, set in 2052, the world faces a pharmaceutical catastrophe. A brilliant biochemist named Skinner revolutionises medicine by creating the perfect painkiller with no side effects. The drug becomes an instant global bestseller, until the creator mysteriously disappears.
Years later, Skinner returns with a shocking confession: his invention is a biological weapon with a delayed effect. Humanity has just 30 days left, and the antidote is in his possession.
The last hope lies in a special forces team made up of an afro-samurai, a talented programmer, a schoolboy drone expert, a biker, and a fugitive criminal. Their mission is to find the psychotic scientist, retrieve the antidote, and save the world.
