Netflix’s One Piece live-action star Mackenyu is preparing for another major anime adaptation, but his casting story for Mashle: Magic and Muscles comes with an unusual twist. The actor will portray Mash Burnedead in the upcoming live-action movie, and although director Yuichi Fukuda decided on his casting almost immediately, Mackenyu spent approximately three years preparing his physique for the demanding role.
The actor’s casting was officially announced on November 5, 2026, alongside the release of the movie’s first teaser and promotional visual. Mackenyu’s transformation is particularly important for the adaptation because Mash is a character whose extraordinary physical strength allows him to compete against powerful magic users.
Mackenyu Spent 3 Years Building Mash Burnedead’s Physique
In an interview with Oricon Japan, Mackenyu revealed that his physical preparation began on the day he received the offer. Rather than simply relying on his previous action roles, the actor wanted to develop a physique that would convince fans familiar with Hajime Komoto’s original manga.
“I spent three years from the day I received the offer to get into a physique that would be convincing enough to be accepted by the fans. I hope you will check out the results on the big screen in the movie theater,”
Mackenyu explained.
His preparation impressed both Fukuda and original manga creator Hajime Komoto. The director praised the actor’s muscular upper body and exceptionally lean lower body, describing his appearance as ideal for Mash.
Komoto also shared his reaction after visiting the filming set, joking that Mackenyu’s impressive muscles made his own pectoral muscles twitch. His comments highlight how closely the actor’s physical transformation matched the character’s exaggerated appearance.
Mashle Director Yuichi Fukuda Cast Mackenyu Just 5 Seconds After Getting Approval
Interestingly, Mackenyu’s casting happened much faster than his physical transformation. Director Yuichi Fukuda revealed that he offered the role to the actor just five seconds after receiving permission to move forward with the live-action adaptation.
“Five seconds after getting permission, I offered the role to Mackenyu,”
Fukuda recalled.
The director also mentioned that he immediately asked when Mackenyu would finish filming as Roronoa Zoro in Netflix’s One Piece. Coordinating the actor’s schedule was important because Fukuda wanted him for Mash from the beginning. Fortunately, their schedules eventually aligned, allowing Mackenyu to take on both projects.
Fukuda’s decision also reflects his confidence in the actor’s ability to handle another physically demanding manga adaptation. Mackenyu has previously portrayed Zoro in Netflix’s One Piece, making him familiar with the expectations surrounding popular anime and manga characters.
Mackenyu Faces a Different Acting Challenge as Mash Burnedead
Beyond his physical transformation, Mackenyu also discussed the difficulty of portraying Mash’s personality. Unlike Zoro, who frequently expresses his determination through dialogue and swordsmanship, Mash rarely displays strong emotions.
The character lives in a world where magical abilities determine a person’s social standing, but he cannot use magic. Instead, he relies entirely on his extraordinary strength while pursuing his dream of becoming a Divine Visionary.
Mackenyu explained that Mash’s physical abilities play an important role in communicating his emotions, even when he barely speaks.
He said that portraying a character who shows little emotion was challenging, but he tried to preserve Mash’s distinctive personality by allowing his superhuman strength to communicate what he was feeling.
The live-action movie is directed by Yuichi Fukuda, with Warner Bros. Pictures and Fuji Television overseeing the project. CREDEUS is handling production, while Toho will distribute the movie in Japan.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on March 19, 2027.
| Started | October 22, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
