For David Dastmalchian, joining One Piece didn’t start with a script or a casting call. It started at home.
Long before he was announced as Mr. 3, Dastmalchian’s first exposure to Eiichiro Oda’s pirate epic came through his son, a manga reader who had already built an extensive One Piece collection. The series was part of family life well before it became part of his career.
At first, it was simply something meaningful to his child, a vast world filled with adventure and larger-than-life characters. That perspective shifted as the live-action project began to take shape.
From Family Manga Nights to the Grand Line
Before his casting was finalized, Dastmalchian started watching the anime with his son. Seeing the characters in motion helped him understand the rhythm of the series and the depth of its storytelling. He quickly realized that One Piece isn’t casual viewing, it’s a long-term commitment, and its global fanbase reflects that dedication.
Once he officially joined the cast, that fandom became personal.
What had been his son’s favorite story was now his professional responsibility. Observing online reactions and fan communities reinforced just how invested audiences are in every detail, especially when it comes to beloved characters like Mr. 3.
That dual perspective, as both a parent and a performer, shaped his approach. Dastmalchian studied the manga, revisited anime performances in multiple languages, and analyzed gestures and posture fans might recognize. But he avoided imitation, choosing instead to honor the character while bringing his own instincts into the role.
For him, playing Mr. 3 meant more than hitting marks on set. It meant stepping into a world cherished by millions, including someone in his own household.
That personal connection added weight to the performance, turning the role into something deeper than another adaptation credit. It became a shared experience across generations, linking a manga-loving child with a father now helping carry the story forward on a global stage.
“And then I have the fact that this is such a special book to my son and to so many other people. You want to honor the tradition and you want people to feel like this is in the space with which their imagination and their heart already holds for Mr. 3, but at the same time, I want to bring David to the performance.”
