Summary
- Netflix's live-action One Piece adaptation finally has a release date of August 31, 2023, and the first trailer suggests that it could be a huge success.
- Creator Eiichiro Oda initially thought a live-action version of One Piece was impossible, but advancements in technology have changed his mind, and he is excited to see his characters come to life.
- Netflix is making an effort to get fans excited about the series by sharing behind-the-scenes footage and organizing fan events and screenings. The streamer is hoping that this adaptation will be a hit and redeem their previous failed attempts at adapting anime.
Netflix's One Piece news has been sought after with the intensity Luffy and the Straw Hat crew search for Gol D. Roger's treasure — and at long last a release date and trailer for the live-action One Piece is here. One Piece is a long-running anime, adapted from Eiichiro Oda's manga of the same name. The One Piece manga, which started in 1997, is now the best-selling manga of all time and is currently preparing to enter its final saga. Similarly, the One Piece anime began in 1999 and is in excess of 1,000 episodes, which makes a new adaptation a daunting proposition. The live-action adaptation of One Piece is part of a larger strategy of Netflix, which has several live-action anime adaptations in development.
Previously, Netflix adapted Cowboy Bebop and Bleach, but none of its previous efforts have really hit the mark. Netflix hopes to move on from its previous failings to ensure that its live-action One Piece is accepted by mainstream fans and manga readers alike. The first trailer showed that the live-action series is playing it straight with the story, and that could mean big things for the property. The popularity of One Piece is undeniable, and if Netflix can appease its longtime audience while introducing Luffy and the Straw Hat crew to new audiences, then the One Piece live-action TV show could be a smash hit.
The Latest Netflix One Piece Live-Action Show News
In recent Netflix One Piece news, the live-action debut of the characters looms ever closer. The series drops on Netflix on August 31, 2023, and original One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has a lot of thoughts on the adaptation. Netflix hasn’t had the best track record when it comes to adapting anime into live-action projects, but the streamer is hoping One Piece will change that.
Oda actually released a statement via a wall of messages in Japan. One fan on X (formerly twitter) known as sandman_AP actually translated Oda's message for those who were interested in his feelings about the adaptation. As part of the message, Oda revealed that he long thought it was “impossible to make a live-action” One Piece. With the advancements in today’s technology for visual and special effects, however, Oda has changed his mind. He explains that the show has to aim to be a “blockbuster hit,” but also that the show needs to drive interest to be successful.
Oda also calls the action in the series “powerful” and the show itself “many times better” than he imagined with “his Luffy” realized on the screen, something he didn’t think possible before. The full translation reads:
The requirement for choosing a Straw Hat crewmate is not strength. Luffy knows what is important. I used to think it was impossible to make a live-action, but with today's technology, it can be done. We must express the cruelty of the wide ocean.
We just have to aim for an unprecedented blockbuster hit. Believe in the story. Focus on whether it is interesting rather than on film technique. There is a trust between me and my fans, and I can't lie to them. You can't call something interesting if it isn't interesting. It lacks power and interest. It's not inspiring at all because it's not well prepared. First-time viewers won't find it appealing as it is now. There could be the worst case scenario.
It's very interesting, but you can make it more interesting. Words with no sense of will are unnecessary. The action is much more powerful. I'm glad the staff understands the characters. The TV drama is becoming good enough to be released to the public. It is many times better than I imagined. I was surprised that my Luffy, whom I thought did not exist, exists in this world. It created an impression that only live-action could do. I am happy to see the love for One Piece scattered in every corner of the screen.
Since Oda’s message has begun to make its way across social media platforms, Netflix has also shared their own message from him as their fan events for the series begin. Netflix is offering fan events and screenings of the first episode of the live-action One Piece series around the world during the week leading up to the premiere of the show. Oda encourages fans of his work to watch the new series “on as big a screen as possible, with the volume cranked up.”
In other recent Netflix One Piece news, the streamer knows exactly how to get fans even more interested in the series. They have begun sharing behind-the-scenes footage on their social media and YouTube s. One of those videos gives a brief introduction to the of the Straw Hats and the casting process for the actors who play the found family in the series.
One Piece Live-Action Release Date On Netflix
Netflix's One Piece finally has a release date. Filming on season 1 wrapped in July 2022, and considering the post-production work and all the effects needed for this show the gap between then and the release is understandable. The Netflix One Piece release date is August 31, 2023, and the trailer for the live-action version of the incredibly popular manga and anime franchise proves it could be one of the most important dates in the streamer's calendar for the year.
Netflix One Piece Live-Action Cast
Netflix made sure to announce the Netflix One Piece news about the casting of the Straw Hat crew before any other cast . Captaining the Going Merry in One Piece as Monkey D. Luffy is Iñaki Godoy. In the Netflix One Piece cast, Mackenyu Arata plays his second-in-command, Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd (Fear Street Part Two: 1978) is the ship’s navigator, Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson (Grey's Anatomy) is the crew’s sniper Usopp, and Taz Skylar (The Lazarus Project) is the chef Sanji. In some fun Netflix One Piece cast news, the main cast introduced themselves to the fans in a video.
Other key Netflix One Piece cast are Peter Gadiot as Shanks and Stevel Marc as Yassop (Usopp's father), who will both appear in all 10 episodes of One Piece's first season. In other roles, Netflix cast Aidan Scott as Helmeppo, Alexander Maniatis as Klahadore, Bianca Oosthuizen as Sham, Celeste Loots as Kaya, Chanté Grainger as Banchina, Chioma Umeala as Nojiko, Craig Fairbrass as Chef Zeff, Grant Ross as Genzo, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida, Jeff Ward as Buggy, Langley Kirkwood as Captain Morgan, McKinley Belcher III as Arlong, Morgan Davies as Koby, Steven Ward as Dracule Mihawk, and Vincent Regan as Garp.
At Anime Expo, some fantastic Netflix One Piece news came out for fans of the original anime. Japanese voice actors from the original One Piece anime will reprise their roles in the One Piece live-action series for Netflix - in a fashion. They’ll be voicing their original characters for the Japanese dub of the show. The announcement was made by Netflix as they sent new live-action Luffy actor Iñaki Godoy to meet the original Luffy voice actor Mayumi Tanaka.
Both were genuinely excited to make the announcement, with Tanaka commenting on just how long she’s been working on the series by exclaiming that Godoy is “old enough to be my grandson.” She also properly ed on the role to him by giving him a straw hat, and asking him to return it to her once he’s become a proper pirate. In addition to Mayumi Tanaka voicing Luffy, Kazuya Nakai voices Roronoa Zoro, Akemi Okamura voices Nami, Kappei Yamaguchi voices Usopp, and Hiroaki Hirata voices Sanji.
Netflix is also opting to keep as many of the voices consistent in the dubbings as possible. Cast of the live-action series who are fluent in Spanish will dub their own character voices for the One Piece live-action Spanish language dubs, meaning Taz Skylar will voice Sanji and Iñaki Godoy will voice Luffy. It shows that Netflix has great faith in their new One Piece cast as much as the fans have faith in the old.
Netflix One Piece Live-Action Show Story Details
The most recent Netflix One Piece news indicates that it will closely adapt the first saga of the original, the East Blue saga. From the sneak peek set video of the One Piece pirate ships in South Africa, sets are seen or referenced from the Arlong Park and Baratie arcs. The cast information also confirms that the Netflix One Piece story will be adapting these arcs, along with the Syrup Village arc where the audience meets Usopp.
Nonetheless, since it's live-action the Netflix One Piece story will naturally be different. For starters, the first season will consist of 10 episodes, and those episodes appear to be adapting the East Blue saga, which covers 53 episodes of the anime. This could suggest that Netflix's One Piece will be addressing the anime's pacing problem, and it may mean that the episodes are longer than the anime. The cast also indicates that there will be changes to some characters' roles. For example, Netflix One Piece updates indicate Shanks will feature in all 10 episodes of One Piece's first season, despite him being a mostly absent and mysterious character for the majority of the anime.
This Netflix One Piece first look trailer also indicates there will be a greater focus on Luffy's backstory, as he was the one talking in the trailer and is who put the crew together. Furthermore, Garp has also been cast, a character who is only briefly first seen in episode 68 of the One Piece anime. Based on the Netflix One Piece updates from the trailer, the first season will see Monkey D. Luffy putting together his crew of Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, and facing monsters and pirates at high sea.
While the Netflix One Piece news is limited, the manga begins with the Romance Dawn arc, where audiences are first introduced to Monkey D. Luffy, and he acquires the first two of his crew, Nami and Zoro. Luffy's ambition to follow in the footsteps of Gol D. Roger and become the Pirate King put him into conflict with a variety of enemies, such as Buggy the Clown (who also appears in the trailer). Luffy collects two more crewmates, Sanji and Usopp, in the next two arcs, Syrup Village and Baratie — although it appears these arcs will be shortened in the live-action version.
Five episodes of the first season of Netflix's One Piece seem to adapt the Arlong Park arc, an early favorite for many in the One Piece fandom since McKinley Belcher III's Arlong is set to feature in five episodes according to IMDb. The first season will likely end with the Loguetown arc, which is the final arc in the East Blue saga in the One Piece anime and manga.
Netflix Live-Action One Piece Trailer
The original Netflix One Piece trailer hit during the streaming giant's Tudum event in Brazil. The trailer shows this is, at its heart, Luffy's story. It begins with Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) in a voice-over about how he has always dreamed of being at sea and wants to become the Pirate King. He then sets out to put together his Straw Hat crew.
While the original teaser trailer for Netflix’s live-action One Piece revealed quite a bit of content, the full-length live-action One Piece trailer features even more. Instead of focusing just on Luffy’s crew, it also gives glimpses at some of their allies and villains along the way, providing a colorful and heart-filled look at the world of One Piece.
The full-length trailer for Netflix’s live-action One Piece also gives a great look at Luffy’s ability to stretch his skin. For fans worried that might not be pulled off well in live-action, the trailer assuages any fears. In fact, One Piece appears to breaking whatever live-action anime curse has been plaguing Netflix. The trailer shows a lot of promise for the new Netflix show contrasting all the previous attempts Netflix has mad at adapting other anime series. From the look of the Netflix One Piece trailer, fans of the manga have nothing to worry about from this new live-action series.
