Just two weeks after its premiere, Netflix has confirmed that its live-action adaptation of “One Piece” will be returning for a second season. The much-anticipated announcement came through a video message from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece and executive producer of the Netflix series.
During the announcement, delivered through a Transponder Snail — an apt nod to the series’ fans — Oda expressed his gratitude towards the global audience for their enthusiastic reception of the show. He confirmed, “Netflix has decided to renew the show!” but urged fans to be patient as the script is still in the development stage.
Details about the number of episodes and story specifics for the upcoming season remain under wraps. However, fans are buzzing with excitement as Oda teased the introduction of the beloved character Tony Tony Chopper, the human-reindeer hybrid doctor of the Straw Hat crew.
Despite earlier statements from Tomorrow Studios CEO Marty Adelstein indicating that the scripts were ready for the new season, it appears that further work is needed. Moreover, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike and Hollywood writers’ strike pose additional delays to the commencement of production.
However, Netflix’s rapid renewal decision, coming sooner than it did even for its runaway hit “Even Wednesday”, signifies the platform’s substantial confidence in the “One Piece” series. According to Netflix’s self-reported statistics, the series amassed a remarkable 18.5 million views and 140 million hours watched within its initial four days of release, maintaining a strong viewership with 19.3 million views in the following week.
This successful debut starkly contrasts with the reception of Netflix’s other anime live-action adaptation, “Cowboy Bebop”, which faced cancellation merely three weeks post its launch.
Co-showrunner Steven Maeda acknowledged the challenge of bringing the character Chopper to life in live-action but expressed readiness to embrace it. The timeline for the release is hoped to be between a year and 18 months, contingent on a swift production pace, stated Tomorrow Studios president Becky Clements.
As fans eagerly await the next installment, they can look forward to more d
