Showrunner Matt Owens, a “One Piece” mega-fan, did not simply get to satisfy his hero Oda: he labored alongside him. Owens described the expertise to SFX as a nerve-wracking one.
“I do not assume I’ve ever been extra nervous for something in my whole life. Right here was this one that has created this story I maintain a lot love and reverence for, and I am asking him to belief me along with his child.”
Owens says that Oda was “powerful to start with,” apparently having been pissed off by earlier, failed makes an attempt to adapt his work. Although he understood that adjustments to each story and elegance could be wanted, Oda additionally drew traces within the sand: the primary characters’ backstories and the Satan Fruit powers that gave Luffy his stretching capacity have been to be unchanged (“That was one thing we have been requested to not mess with”).
In accordance with Owens, the love for the collection on set received Oda over: “I feel as soon as he realized we have been coming from the appropriate place — making an attempt to guard this collection and create a brand new avenue for much more folks to fall in love with it — he began to belief us.” Emily Rudd, who performs the Straw Hats’ navigator, Nami, echoed that Oda was hands-on in his function as govt producer.
“He is been concerned from day one. He is learn all the scripts, he authorised all the forged members. For the creator of such an essential collection to have a hand over our adaptation is very large for me as a fan. I feel it issues so much to the opposite present followers as effectively.”
The collection’ teaser and trailer have drawn some skepticism from “One Piece” followers. Whereas Oda’s involvement appears deeper than mere PR, followers should wait and see if their favourite creator delivered as soon as extra on this live-action take.
“One Piece” premieres August 31, 2023, on Netflix.