One Piece Live-Action Series: Everything You Need to Know

If you are a fan of One Piece, the legendary manga and anime series by Eiichiro Oda, you are in for a treat. Netflix has announced that it will release a live-action adaptation of One Piece on August 31, 2023. Here is everything you need to know about this exciting project.


One Piece is one of the most popular and influential manga and anime series of all time, created by Eiichiro Oda. It tells the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of finding the legendary treasure One Piece and becoming the King of the Pirates. Along his journey, he meets and recruits a diverse crew of friends and allies, each with their own goals and abilities. Together, they face many enemies and challenges in the vast and unpredictable world of One Piece.

One Piece has been running since 1997 and has over 1,000 chapters (also over 1000 anime episodes), making it the longest-running manga series in history. It has also sold over 500 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling manga series ever. It has won numerous awards and accolades, and has inspired countless spin-offs, movies, games, merchandise, and fan works.

Now, One Piece is getting a live-action adaptation for the first time ever. Netflix has announced that it will produce a 10-episode series based on the manga, with Oda himself involved as an executive producer. The series will be released on August 31, 2023, and will feature a cast of actors from different countries and backgrounds to reflect the diversity of the One Piece world.

Here is everything you need to know about the One Piece live-action series:

The Cast

The main cast of the One Piece live-action series was revealed in June 2023, along with a teaser video that showed them recreating a famous scene from the manga. The cast includes:

• Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy: The protagonist of the series, a cheerful and adventurous pirate who can stretch his body like rubber after eating a Devil Fruit. He is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and aims to find One Piece and become the King of the Pirates.
• Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro: The first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, a master swordsman who wields three blades at once. He is a former bounty hunter who wants to become the world’s greatest swordsman.
• Emily Rudd as Nami: The navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, a smart and cunning thief who can manipulate weather with a special device called a Clima-Tact. She loves money and maps, and wants to draw a map of the entire world.
• Taz Skylar as Sanji: The cook of the Straw Hat Pirates, a skilled martial artist who fights only with his legs. He is a chivalrous and romantic man who has a weakness for beautiful women. He dreams of finding the All Blue, a legendary sea where all kinds of fish exist.
• Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp: The sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates, a liar and inventor who uses various gadgets and weapons to fight. He is often cowardly and insecure, but has a strong sense of loyalty and friendship. He wants to become a brave warrior of the sea like his father.

The cast also includes other actors who will play supporting roles or villains in the series, such as:

• Hiroyuki Sanada as Dracule Mihawk: The world’s greatest swordsman and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a group of powerful pirates who work for the World Government. He is Zoro’s ultimate rival and mentor.
• Elijah Rodriguez as Smoker: A marine officer who can turn into smoke after eating a Devil Fruit. He is one of Luffy’s persistent enemies who chases him across the Grand Line.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Shanks: A famous pirate who is one of the Four Emperors, the most powerful pirates in the world. He is Luffy’s idol and inspiration, who gave him his straw hat and saved his life when he was a child.
• Maisie Williams as Tashigi: A marine officer who is Smoker’s subordinate. She is a swordswoman who resembles Zoro’s childhood friend Kuina, who died in an accident.
• Pedro Pascal as Don Krieg: A notorious pirate who is known as the Pirate Armada Leader. He has a large fleet of ships and weapons, and tries to conquer the Grand Line by force.

The Plot

The plot of the One Piece live-action series will follow the first two arcs of the manga: The East Blue Saga and The Baratie Arc. These arcs introduce the main characters and their motivations, as well as some of their enemies and allies.

The East Blue Saga covers the first 100 chapters and 53 episodes of the manga and anime, respectively. It shows how Luffy leaves his home island and meets Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, who join his crew. They also encounter villains such as Buggy the Clown, Captain Kuro, Arlong the Fishman, and Smoker the White Hunter.

The Baratie Arc covers chapters 42 to 68 and episodes 19 to 30 of the manga and anime, respectively. It shows how the Straw Hat Pirates arrive at a floating restaurant called Baratie, where they meet the chef Sanji. They also face Don Krieg, who attacks the restaurant with his armada, and Dracule Mihawk, who challenges Zoro to a duel.

The series will also include some original scenes and characters that are not in the manga or anime, to add more depth and diversity to the story. For example, the series will explore more of Nami’s backstory and her relationship with her adoptive mother Bellemere, who was killed by Arlong.

The Production

The One Piece live-action series is produced by Tomorrow Studios, a joint venture between Marty Adelstein and ITV Studios. Tomorrow Studios is also behind other live-action adaptations of anime such as Cowboy Bebop and Death Note.

The series is written by Matt Owens, who has worked on Marvel shows such as Luke Cage and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Steven Maeda, who has worked on Lost and The X-Files. They are also the showrunners and executive producers of the series.

The series is directed by Michael Gracey, who has directed musical films such as The Greatest Showman and Rocketman. He is also an executive producer of the series.
The series is filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, where a full-scale replica of the Straw Hat Pirates’ ship, the Going Merry, was built. The series also uses a lot of visual effects and CGI to create the fantastical elements of the One Piece world.

The series has the approval and support of Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Oda has been involved in the production as an executive producer and a creative consultant. He has also given feedback and suggestions to the cast and crew.

Oda has expressed his excitement and optimism for the live-action adaptation, saying that he hopes it will be a faithful and enjoyable rendition of his work. He has also thanked the fans for their patience and support, saying that he hopes they will love the series as much as he does.

The Expectations

The One Piece live-action series is one of the most anticipated and ambitious projects in Netflix’s history. It is also one of the most challenging and risky ones, as it attempts to adapt a beloved and iconic manga that has a huge and loyal fanbase around the world.

One Piece fans have high expectations and standards for the live-action adaptation, as they want it to capture the essence and spirit of the original manga. They also have concerns and doubts about how well the live-action format can translate the complex and colorful world of One Piece, which is full of fantastical creatures, powers, locations, and characters.

However, Netflix has assured that it will respect and honor Oda’s vision and work, and that it will deliver a high-quality and faithful adaptation that will appeal to both fans and newcomers alike. Netflix has also invested a lot of money and resources into the production, making it one of its most expensive original series ever.

The One Piece live-action series has the potential to be a huge hit or a huge flop for Netflix. It could either introduce One Piece to a wider audience and expand its popularity and influence, or it could disappoint or alienate its existing fans and tarnish its reputation. Either way, it will be a historic event for One Piece and for anime in general.