Many fans of the Eiichiro Oda classic can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Netflix has announced that the One Piece live-action adaptation has been renewed for Season 2. Crafted under the careful guidance of Oda himself, who oversaw his narrative’s transition to anime and live action, Season 1 of One Piece has alleviated some of the fandom’s fears that Netflix might treat One Piece the same way it did Cowboy Bebop‘s and Death Note‘s respective adaptations. Fortunately, One Piece fared better.
Thanks to Oda’s involvement and the stellar performances of Iñaki Godoy and the rest of the cast, One Piece has remained a constant on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list ever since the series debuted more than six weeks ago. In fact, it ranked #1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for each of the first three weeks following its release. Considering the massive success of Season 1, the renewal for Season 2 doesn’t actually come as a surprise. However, the fandom is now concerned that Season 1 might’ve set expectations too high.
From what we know so far, the scripts for One Piece Season 2 have already been written, and this was previously confirmed by the series producer, Marty Adelstein. Considering that Season 1 ended with Luffy receiving news that he’s now the most wanted pirate in the East Blue following his victory over the Arlong Pirates, and the fact that Netflix hasn’t shared any specifics regarding the Season 2 narrative, we can only speculate as to what comes next. Please note that the following paragraphs may contain spoilers.
Assuming that Season 2 follows the same pace and trajectory as Season 1, which actually managed to cram nearly 100 manga chapters and 60 anime episodes into eight hour-long episodes, it’s highly likely that Season 2 will cover the entire Arabasta Saga, also referred to as the Baroque Works Saga. The Arabasta Saga lasted for 117 volumes of manga and 74 episodes of anime, and it should provide enough material for Netflix to forge a full-fledged Season 2 of the series.
If that turns out to be the case, we can expect the journey of Season 2 to begin with our Straw Hat Pirates venturing across the perilous Reverse Mountain, which is a gateway to the unpredictable waters of the Grand Line. The adventures will take them to Whiskey Peak, the island inhabited by bounty hunters, and then to Little Garden, an island that’s trapped in prehistoric times and settled by all manner of creatures, including two feuding giants, Dorry and Brogy. After Little Garden, they’ll reach Drum Island and then the sun-scorched deserts of Arabasta.
Of course, the Arabasta Saga is much more than mere travel. It’s one of the most important sagas in the overall story of One Piece, representing the story’s turning point, with the unexpected appearance of Luffy’s sworn older brother Portgas D. Ace, the introduction of Nico Robin, and Luffy’s battles with Sir Crocodile, the formidable leader of Baroque Works and one of the revered Seven Warlords of the Sea. This saga also acknowledges some hidden truths about the world’s history and world government, which elevate the stakes within the entire One Piece narrative.
Production-wise, while the scripts have been finished, the production apparently hasn’t started due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike (not to be confused with the concluded WGA strike), which also prevents the casting and scheduling of a release date. Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Taz Skylar, and Morgan Davies are more than likely to reprise their respective roles, but the question of what actors will portray newly introduced characters still remains. It’s safe to assume that Tomorrow Studios, the studio that produces One Piece for Netflix, has already been discussing casting the new characters.
It’s also highly unlikely that the studio will disclose any details until after the strike. The same applies to the release date. According to Adelstein and president of Tomorrow Studios, Becky Clemens, Season 2 of One Piece could drop somewhere between 12 and 18 months from now — if the production were to start immediately. However, we don’t live in an ideal world, and with Hollywood labor strikes still in effect, it’s safer to assume that the series will be ready to stream 12 to 18 months following the end of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
So it would seem that the second season, as well as any future season, of One Piece currently depends on the strike situation, which hopefully won’t delay the production further. If the strike ends soon enough, the next season could stream as soon as 2024; otherwise, it would be a shame to see Godoy and the rest of the cast age out of their roles, especially after they perfectly reflected the original characters of the manga and anime.
Ultimately, apart from speculation tied to the narrative of the upcoming season and the fact that production is hindered by the strike, Netflix is doing a pretty good job of keeping other details under wraps, at least for now. With everything said, the strike is bound to end eventually, and the only obstacle Season 2 of One Piece really has to deal with is living up to the high standards set by Season 1. But as long as it manages to maintain the fandom’s interest, its momentum should continue. We can expect to learn more about Season 2 once the strike ends.