Everything We Know About The Live-Action One Piece Series So Far
Adapting "One Piece" into a live-action series is no easy task. The Japanese bestselling manga by Eiichiro Oda has over 100 volumes featuring thousands of chapters. Oda holds the Guinness World Record for most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author. The manga is being published in Japan since July 1997, with Toei Animation adapting it into an anime series, which is being broadcasted since 1999 and has over 20 ongoing seasons.
And "One Piece" isn't ending anytime soon. While talking to Yomiuri in 2018, "One Piece" writer and illustrator Eiichiro Oda revealed that the manga was 80% complete, "but there's still nine members in the crew." There's no telling how many more volumes the creator will continue to release or how long it will take for the manga to end. "One Piece" has an enormous fanbase within multiple generations, so it is safe to say that Netflix has its work cut out for them. The streamer is partnering with Tomorrow Studios ("Snowpiecer," "Cowboy Bebop") and "One Piece" publisher Shueisha to bring the best-selling story to life.
What Is One Piece About?
An adventure story, "One Piece," takes place in an alternate universe, a world of five seas in the Golden Age of Pirates. The age began with the execution of the pirate king Gol D. Rogers, which the world government hoped would discourage piracy, but his last words started the Golden Age of Pirates instead. The legend passed on his flame to the world by declaring that anyone who found the One Piece, i.e., a piece of the treasure discovered by him, could claim it, single-handedly kickstarting the great age. His words inspired many pirates who began searching for the treasure.
"One Piece" follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who has made it his life's mission to search the world for the missing piece of treasure left behind by Rogers. Luffy also has a kind of superpower — he once ate the gum-gum fruit, which gave him the ability to turn his limbs to rubber. It's a trait that puts him on par with other pirates, even the most ruthless ones. Luffy and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates have many exciting adventures after they enter the grand line, the fifth sea of their world, where the treasure is hidden.
"One Piece" primarily plays out on the idea of clashing powers. There are pirates, leaders, aristocratic families, and a revolutionary army representing the forces of good and evil. A significant theme in the manga series is the power of dreams, which motivates the Straw Hat pirates to continue on their quest, no matter the consequences. Nearly every character in the manga has a supporting arc where their dreams are what ultimately drives them, and the villains, too, have admitted that theirs were broken at some point.
Does One Piece Have A Release Date?
Not yet! Filming for "One Piece" was expected to begin in summer 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa, but was delayed due to the pandemic. The live-action series is expected to film at Cape Town Film Studios, which reportedly has the space necessary for the pirate ships we're yet to see!
In March 2021, showrunner Steven Maeda took to social media to assure fans that production on "One Piece" had finally resumed. "A year ago COVID kicked us out of our offices and delayed production. But we haven't stopped working to bring @onepiecenetflix to life. Thanks for your patience, your questions, and many great suggestions," he wrote.
In early October, Maeda posted a photo of himself in Cape Town, writing "arrival" in the caption. The cast for "One Piece" has already been announced, and they've arrived in Cape Town, too!
Who Is The Cast Of One Piece?
We're one step closer to seeing the Straw Hat pirates in action! Netflix announced its cast for the live-action adaptation of "One Piece" in November! Starring as the pirate Monkey D. Luffy is actor Iñaki Godoy, who is well-known for his role as Bruno in the streamer's "Who Killed Sara?" Other cast members include Emily Rudd ("Fear Street") as Nami, Japanese actor Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Taz Skylar as Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp.
Welcome to Netflix Straw Hats! @InakiGodoy, @mackenyu1116, @emilysteaparty, @itsbookofjacob and Taz Skylar. pic.twitter.com/sLwsJlO37P
— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) November 9, 2021
As per a report published by Variety last year, the live-action series will consist of 10 episodes. Showrunner Steven Maeda has revealed the first episode's title to be "Romance Dawn," and the other nine episodes have scripts written as well. Since the cast has already arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, the series can begin filming as early as January 2022, which means we can be hopeful about seeing a glimpse into Netflix's "One Piece" soon!
"One Piece" has been a fan-favorite manga series for two decades and has an enormous fanbase that has expectations from the Netflix adaptation. Of late, the streamer has been investing in live-action adaptations of major Japanese manga series. "Cowboy Bebop" recently hit the streamer (before it was subsequently canceled) and an adaptation of "Yu Yu Hakusho" is in the works for 2023.