Massively popular manga One Piece is getting a live-action adaptation from Netflix. The adaptation was first announced back in 2017, with Netflixâs involvement revealed last year. Now in 2021, the showâs main cast has finally been announced, and One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda seems excited about how things are going.
The live-action show will star Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Emily Rudd as Nami, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji.
In a written statement, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda expressed his excitement for the Netflix seriesâwith the exclamation points to prove it.
Weâve been working with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios on the massive project that is the Hollywood live action series adaptation of One Piece! How many years has it been since it was announced, right? I know, I know! But rest assured weâve been making steady progress all along! Itâs not easy when youâre working with people from different cultures! But itâs preciously that process that can yield something special! For now, weâre able to announce the main cast! Rather, we need to hurry and announce it or else itâll be leaked, apparently! Hilarious, lol. Their face, the size of their mouths and hands, their aura, the way they carry themselves, their voice, their acting skills, their height, the balance amongst the Straw Hat Crew, etc…!
We decided on this cast after numerous discussion involving people around the world! These are the people who will be our Straw Hat Pirates! Itâll take a bit more to get the show done, but weâll continue to do our best to deliver a show that weâre confident will be enjoyed by everyone around the world! Look forward to more updates in the future!
As an artist, itâs understandable that Oda would put importance on things like the actorsâ hands and mouthsâwhich certainly makes it seem like heâs closely involved with the project. Thatâs not always the case with live-action adaptations (see Gantz), and suggests heâs not just an executive producer in name only. (The showâs other executive producers are Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements, who are also shepherding on the Cowboy Bebop live-action series.)
Filming for the show was supposed to begin last summer in Cape Town, but was delayed by Covid-19. In early October, showrunner Steven Maeda posted a photo of himself in Cape Town, writing the word, âarrival.â It seems like the series will be using practical effects, which is very cool. On Instagram, cast member Mackenyu posted photos of the ships that will be used in the show, including what looks to be the Going Merry.
During the production of any TV series, itâs hard to know how the show will ultimately turn out. However, as of right now, Eiichiro Oda is excited!
