The lead actor in Netflix’s live-action One Piece assures fans that the new adaptation stays faithful to the original anime.
Even though the recent full-length trailer shown during the TUDUM fan event looked promising, some fans are still cautious. They’ve seen previous western attempts to remake beloved anime, like Speed Racer, Ghost in the Shell, Death Note, and Cowboy Bebop, which didn’t turn out well.
There’s a good chance that the live-action One Piece adaptation will break the trend of disappointing western remakes of anime. The creator, Eiichiro Oda, is deeply involved in the series, and the lead actor, Iñaki Godoy, emphasizes their commitment to honoring the original work.
Godoy stated in an interview with SFX Magazine that they want to respect and love Oda’s work, and the live-action version will stay true to the source material. They believe that the amazing story of One Piece can inspire people to be their best selves, be friendly, and pursue their dreams.
Netflix’s One Piece team was specifically asked not to change two important elements: the backstories of the Straw Hat pirates (the main characters) and the powers granted by the mysterious devil fruits in the franchise.
Oda himself expressed satisfaction with the results and wrote an open letter to fans, assuring them that there were “no compromises” in bringing the series to life in live-action.
According to showrunner Matt Owens, known for his work on Marvel’s Luke Cage and Agents of SHIELD, gaining the approval of One Piece’s creator was a challenging process.
Owens explained that they weren’t the first to attempt a live-action adaptation of One Piece, and initially, the creator was tough to please. However, as they showed their genuine commitment to protecting the series and introducing it to a wider audience, the creator started to trust them.
The live-action One Piece also features Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji.
Source: Radio Times
