Netflix prepares its first One Piece adaptation for season three, its creators think there’s plenty of gas in the tank.
In a recent IGN interview, co-showrunner Joe Tracz, writer Ian Stokes, and Tomorrow Studios head Becky Chambers discussed the show’s future. Before season two, the cast told The Movie Podcast about a specific arc that manga creator Eiichiro Oda hopes the series can get to. “Not ‘end,’” said Mackenyu at the time, “but where he wants us to take the live-action to.” No one spilled any beans, but fans have their theories about where that could be.
Clements told IGN she, Tracz, and Stokes are aware of the same desired goal post, but admitted Oda’s more “optimistic” than them about reaching it. Netflix likes to cancel things, so she hopes the show can have a pretty long run when all’s said and done. In fact, they’re already gearing up for that run: the team’s already broke the story through season eight, and her realistic hope is for the show to hit ten seasons. Getting higher than that would basically be extra, but not unwanted.
“We’re building these characters and this world,” added Tracz. “I think none of us want to say goodbye before we’ve had a chance to continue paying off the things we’ve set up.”
Digging further into their relationship with Oda, Stokes reiterated that everything in One Piece gets his approval, from outlines and scripts to casting and edits. The relationship’s been a pretty good one so far—in Stokes’ recollection, pushing back on Oda’s asks ends with him being right. According to Tracz, not taking advantage of Oda’s involvement and insight would be “foolish. […] He has veto power, but it’s also a case of like, well, why would we ever want to do something that wasn’t what he intended?”
You can read the full interview here, which also digs into when they change things, casting ahead for future characters, and treating this as a manga adaptation first and foremost. One Piece will return with new episodes in 2027.
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