Warning: This post contains spoilers for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece.
AT LONG LAST, Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is officially here. After it was first announced in 2017, the first eight episodes of the show recently hit the streaming service, providing all kinds of adventures as Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) begins his epic quest to find the famed One Piece treasure and become King of the Pirates.
The first season delivers on its promise of grand quests, epic fight scenes, memorable characters, and iconic moments from the immensely popular manga and anime. Far from the flop that was Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop, One Piece feels like it’s bound to become a breakout hit for the service that manages to cultivate new fans and live up to the sky-high expectations of current fans.
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Those who follow One Piece closely know that Luffy’s adventures are just beginning; at this point in the story, there are over 1,000 episodes of the manga and the anime—so we’ve got a long way to go. However, Oda’s source material provides, well, a handy map of where we’re headed in the future. Here’s everything we know about Season 2 of Netflix’s One Piece.
Will There Be a Season 2 of One Piece?
Short answer: Probably. Long answer: We’re in the middle of an extensive dual strike for both the Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild, so any production on Season 2 won’t begin until both of those issues are resolved. With episodes rumored to cost around $18 million dollars per episode (to compare, Game of Thrones had a production budget of around $15 million per episode in its final season), it’s easily the most expensive Netflix production to date. That’s a hefty investment to walk away from, especially considering most of the South African sets for the show are all practical—down to things like the deck of the Going Merry, Luffy’s ship.
One Piece is the world’s best-selling manga and the best-selling comic series by volume, while the anime is no-slouch in terms of its popularity, so there’s certainly a built-in audience for the show. If the series is received well by fans and general audiences alike, we’ll likely see a sophomore season renewal in short order.
When Will Season 2 of One Piece Come Out?
It will take a while before we set sail with the Straw Hats again. As mentioned, because of the dual strikes, both must be resolved before production can begin. Some Netflix shows get renewals ahead of time, so there’s a possibility some scripts for Season 2 were already in the works, but even if that’s true, it won’t be the majority of them. So we’ll need to wait until the writing is complete and production on Season 2 is finished. Considering filming for Season 1 took about nine months and then another year for post-production, it’ll probably be at least two years before Season 2 arrives once the strikes are resolved.
What Could Season 2 of One Piece Be About?
The concluding moments of the Season 1 finale offered a pretty clear insight as to what we’ll see next season. As the crew set off for the Grand Line, Buggy (Jeff Ward) and Alvida (Ilia Isorelýs Paulino), both embarrassed by Luffy, seemingly join forces in their pursuit of our protagonist. But the biggest tease comes from a brief post-credits scene that introduces a new foe. SPOILER ALERT: Tried and true One Piece fans will recognize the dual cigars as the signature of Captain Smoker, a dogged Marine who already has Luffy on his radar.
The show’s first season covered the first four arcs of the manga, so if we see roughly the same for Season 2, we’ll likely enter into what’s known as the Arabasta Saga. But even if we don’t reach that point, anticipate that this second outing will see the Straw Hats continue to come across foes and friends, both old and new, in their pursuit of the Grand Line and the famed One Piece.
Who Will Be in Season 2 of One Piece?
In addition to the full cast—Godoy as Luffy, Mackenyu as Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, Taz Skylar as Sanji, Vincent Regan as Garp, Morgan Davies as Koby, and Aidan Scott as Helmeppo—anticipate to see Jeff Ward and Ilia Isorelýs Paulino back as Buggy and Alvida, respectively. Peter Gadiot’s Shanks will be around, considering we saw him at the end alongside Steven Ward’s Mihawk, who should also return.
Depending on how many arcs the season will cover, there will also be plenty of new faces, including the previously mentioned Smoker, who will be one of the first new characters we’ll come across whenever One Piece’s second season eventually sets sail.
William Goodman is a freelancer writer, focused on all things pop culture, tech, gadgets, and style. He’s based in Washington, DC and his work can also be found at Robb Report, Complex, and GQ. He’s yet to meet a jacket or cardigan he didn’t love. In his free time, he’s probably on Twitter (@goodmanw) or at the movies.
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