The live-action adaptation of One Piece on Netflix achieved an impressive feat by securing a spot in the top 10 in 93 countries upon its initial release. Taz Skylar, who played the character of Sanji in the series, has shared some insights that could hint at what viewers can expect in Season 2.
During an interview at the series trailer launch, Skylar expressed his views on the length of the series, hoping for a balanced number of episodes that would make the One Piece live-action series more appealing to viewers.
Both of his co-actors, Iñaki Godoy and Mackenyu, who portrayed Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro, respectively, in the series, agreed with Sanji’s sentiments.
The One Piece live-action adaptation has successfully made One Piece fans proud of the overall execution of the series. But it has also gotten the attention of many non-anime and manga viewers who decided to give the series a chance.
Even though they never showed any interest in the manga or anime because of its length. The exceptional cast, particularly actor Mackenyu, experienced a rise in popularity after the release of the series.
Taz Skyler’s Condition on One Piece Live-Action
It is pretty visible in the significant increase in his Instagram following. Taz Skylar, despite having previously appeared in several short films and television series, gained widespread recognition only after being a part of the One Piece live-action series.
The actor has now established himself as a notable figure in the entertainment industry through his role as Straw Hat Pirates crew member Sanji. During an interview, Skylar expressed his belief that the series would do justice to the original work if it could deliver a satisfying conclusion.
He emphasized, “I’d like it to run just long enough to reach a conclusion that satisfies everyone involved—the main cast, the crew, and every contributor. My hope is for all of us to take pride in the outcome. I wouldn’t want it cut short or dragged on unnecessarily. That’s my vision.”
Skylar also shared his perspective on the complexity and challenges associated with creating a live-action adaptation of the popular anime and manga series.
Since everyone who has either read the manga or watched the anime is well aware of the intense world-building of the series, it requires a considerable amount of time and resources to bring that world into a live-action format.
Fans of One Piece live-action are eagerly waiting for the return of the Pirates crew members for season 2, however, due to ongoing strikes.
Everyone believes that the release of One Piece Live Action could be delayed by several months from its original schedule.
The series is estimated to be released around September 2024 or March 2025. Steven Maeda, who is one of the showrunners of the One Piece Live Action series, has shared about the complexities involved in the process of bringing “One Piece” to life on Netflix with One Piece fans.
Steven Maeda has mentioned on various occasions that, as the showrunner of the series, he was under pressure to maintain a balance between staying true to the source material and making necessary changes for the adaptation.
He and the production crew also had to manage the pace of the storyline by effectively portraying the complex themes and characters of One Piece.
As the showrunner, Steven Maeda was already aware of the responsibility. By taking the project under his belt, he had to deliver the series to the fans of One Piece and do justice to their expectations.
So, he had to be involved in staying faithful to the core elements and themes of the original series that the fans of the manga and anime loved while also adding new elements to keep the adaptation engaging and relevant for new viewers.
Steven Maeda shared his thoughts about the series through his statement: “The paramount challenge for me lay in achieving equilibrium in the series. Given the fervor and dedication of the fanbase, it was crucial to do justice to their expectations while ensuring the show resonated with the essence of One Piece.”
Steven Maeda’s ultimate goal was to craft the series to appeal to a broader audience, including those who were not familiar with the One Piece franchise.