Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece nearly moved too far away from its source material during early development, according to former showrunner Steven Maeda. Speaking on the Trash Taste Podcast, Maeda explained how creator Eiichiro Oda objected to a rewritten version of the first season, prompting Netflix to reconsider its approach.
The original plan called for a 10-episode season. However, after an executive change, the production team was reportedly asked to cut the budget in half and deliver eight episodes instead. These restrictions forced the writers to rethink the story and remove elements they believed were important to the adaptation.
Maeda recalled that the production team had spent considerable time developing the scripts before being asked to make substantial changes.
“We want you to cut the budget in half, and it’s going to be cut down to eight episodes now instead of ten,”
Maeda explained while describing Netflix’s revised demands.
The changes created concerns that the adaptation would struggle to satisfy longtime fans of Oda’s manga.
ODA’S OBJECTION PROMPTED NETFLIX TO RECONSIDER
According to Maeda, the revised scripts gradually moved away from the storytelling that made the original manga popular. He feared that the production might lose its connection to Oda’s vision or even be cancelled if the creative direction continued.
Oda eventually reviewed the rewritten season and made his dissatisfaction clear. Maeda explained on the Trash Taste Podcast, episode #330, that the creator told Netflix,
“This is not what I signed up to.”
That response prompted Netflix to reconsider its approach. Maeda credited the streaming service for recognizing the problem and returning to the production team with a willingness to provide the resources needed for a version closer to the source material.
The account highlights Oda’s influence over the adaptation, with the manga creator serving as an executive producer and participating in key creative decisions. Netflix has also discussed his involvement in casting, post-production, and maintaining the characters’ personalities in its official behind-the-scenes coverage.
The live-action adaptation has since become an established part of Netflix’s entertainment lineup, demonstrating how a manga with an expansive world can be adapted for television while retaining its central characters and themes.
Netflix has confirmed that the third season, titled One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta, will premiere in 2027. The upcoming installment will follow Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they attempt to help Princess Vivi protect her homeland from a growing rebellion and the schemes of Sir Crocodile.
Maeda’s account offers a look at the production challenges behind the series and the importance of balancing budget limitations with creative fidelity. Oda’s intervention, as described by the former showrunner, helped bring the adaptation back toward the vision that its creator wanted to see on screen.
| Started | October 22, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
