The hype is real for us One Piece fans as our beloved anime’s live-action series has finally made some significant headway this year!
Since Oda’s announcement way back in 2017, we’ve been waiting for any news of progress with bated breath.
At long last, in January 2020, we had a moment of reprieve when Netflix revealed they would collaborate with Oda to produce the show.
Now that we have a 10 episode series to look forward to, let’s deep dive into what we know about it so far.
1. Who’s Producing the Series?
Tomorrow Studios will be taking charge of the series’ production alongside Netflix. While Oda and Steven Maeda have signed on as the executive producers, Matt Owens is credited as one of the show’s lead writers.
Although filming was set to commence in Summer 2020, the pandemic derailed it. After a year of silence, Maeda reassured the community that the series’ pre-production was well underway.
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
Fast forward to January 31st, 2022, Maeda’s tweet hints at the show’s production in progress. Then finally, on February 2nd, 2022, fans rejoice as Netflix Geeked outright confirms that filming has officially begun!
While anime fans are constantly worried that western live-action adaptations will deviate from the source material, the One Piece fandom can rest easy, as Oda is thoroughly involved in this project.
During The Reverie streaming event, Matt Owens eased the minds of the entire community by detailing the creative process behind the show.
Oda and his team are very involved. They read off our outlines and all of our scripts and give us notes
It’s always a conversation between us and Oda and his team….We always go back to the source material
Furthermore, he even acknowledges the franchise’s perfection and affirms there won’t be any drastic changes.
Netflix knows how valuable this property is because of what it is. It is successful because of what it is in its existence already. Any changes are just about trying to make it palatable to a wider audience and a live-action version of it. No changes come because it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t like the Arlong fight…’ There’s nothing like that.
With a team of creative minds who understand the core of the anime spearheading the series, it’s safe to say that the show’s in the best of hands.
2. Where will it be Shot?
A large chunk of the filming will be shot in the cosmopolitan coastal city of Cape Town, one of the three capitals of South Africa.
Its sprawling and stunning beaches make it an ideal location for the pirate universe to set sail.
Moreover, Cape Town Film Studios is spacious to accommodate the show’s specially designed ships, three of which are already constructed.
3. Who’s the Cast?
The official twitter account unveiled the new faces of the Straw Hat crew in November 2021 –
Iñaki Godoy is set to play our cheerfully optimistic Captain Monkey D. Luffy, Emily Rudd as navigator Nami, Mackenyu as masterclass swordsman Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson as no-scope sniper Usopp, and Taz Skylar as the culinary genius ‘Black Leg’ Sanji.
Besides meeting our incredibly enthusiastic cast through their introductory video, we even got custom-made ‘Wanted Posters’ of each of them.
Then, on March 9th, the official twitter account announced a fresh set of cast members – Morgan Davies as Koby, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida, Aidan Scott as Helmeppo, Jeff Ward as Buggy, Vincent Regan as Garp, and McKinley Belcher III as Arlong.
For more updates and to check out the latest additions to the cast, check out the official twitter account
4. What’s the plot?
The plot will revolve around the birth of the Straw Hats as Luffy journeys the East Blue and recruits Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji.
With the first episode titled ‘Romance Dawn’ and the reveal of the new cast members, the show will adapt the first five arcs of the East Blue Saga, likely ending with the iconic Arlong Park Arc or a cliffhanger with Arlong’s debut.
Although, they could still be on the lookout for actors to fill the shoes of Roger, Dragon, Smoker, and Tashigi to bring the Loguetown Arc to life as well.
5. When will it premiere?
The show’s release date is still unknown, as it’s only been two months since production started.
Although it seems like an eternal wait is ahead of us, Netflix and Oda have assured us that steady progress is being made to finalize a premiere date.
“It’ll take a bit more time to get this show done, but we’ll continue to do our best to deliver a show that we’re confident will be enjoyed by everyone around the world! Look forward to more updates in the future!”
But based on these updates and the tentative release window predicted by Production Weekly, the series will likely hit the screens in late 2022 or 2023.
6. Is there a trailer?
Netflix hasn’t released a trailer yet, and news of one is currently not in sight. Since we’re only two months into filming, it’ll likely take a while before any teasers are dropped.
However, with One Piece’s official twitter prepping the fandom for a storm on the 28th, by hinting at a list of announcements that are set to coincide with chapter 1044’s big debut, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more than an update on the show.
Although the tweet only features photographs of Cape Town, the series filming location, and a straw hat, I’m hoping we’ll get a sneak peek or, better yet, a first look at the actors in costume.
7. About One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.
The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.
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