Season 2 of the One Piece live action adaptation at Netflix has begun production, and the streaming platform has shared a video of the cast returning to set to celebrate.
The video, below, celebrates the beginning of Season 2 production by showing Straw Hat cast members Iñaki Godoy (Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji returning to the Going Merry pirate ship set in South Africa.
It’s happening, Nakama! ?☠️ Our Straw Hats have reunited to begin filming their epic ONE PIECE Season 2 adventure!
— Netflix (@netflix) July 1, 2024
Our journey begins from the deck of the Going Merry with Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Gibson and Taz Skylar! ⛵ ? pic.twitter.com/V956ezFkAq
One Piece fans were gearing up for a bigger announcement from Netflix as it announced a handful of new castings in June 2024, so word on production beginning will likely get them excited. A report claiming filming would begin in June 2024 also said Netflix was looking to a 2025 premiere date for Season 2, which now seems more likely than ever.
The casting announcements revealed Ant-Man and The Suicide Squad's David Dastmalchian and Game of Thrones' Clive Russell would join One Piece in Season 2 as Mr. 3 and Crocus respectively, alongside Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine, Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5, Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9, Werner Coetser as Dorry, Brendan Murray as Brogy, Callum Kerr as Captain Smoker, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Ty Keogh as Dalton, and Rob Collletti as Wapol (ending the Danny DeVito dream).
Alongside the Straw Hats, Netflix also confirmed Ilia Isorelys Paulino is returning as Alvida, Jeff Ward is returning as Buggy, and Michael Dorman is returning as Gold Roger. All three of these characters appear in an early part of Season 2's Arabasta Arc, so the rough outline of the incoming eight episodes is becoming clearer (spoilers for the One Piece manga ahead).
The three returning side characters will likely appear in Episode 1, as the Straw Hats appear in Loguetown before entering the Grand Line. Episode 2 will likely focus on Reverse Mountain, starring Clive Russell as Crocus. Episode 3 should therefore show Whisky Peak and introduce the first few Baroque Works characters such as Lasker's Mr. 9, leaving Episode 5 to focus on Little Garden and introduce Coetser and Murray as the giants Dorry and Brogy.
Episode 6 will therefore likely introduce the highly anticipated, three foot tall human/reindeer hybrid Tony Tony Chopper (plus Keogh as Dalton), leaving Episode 7 and 8 as a two part finale focused on the main Arabasta events with the likes of Dastmalchian's Mr. 3 and the final lot of Baroque Works members.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
