After a long wait, the live-action One Piece finally made its debut on Netflix at the end of August.
Although there was some skepticism about Netflix developing another live-action anime adaptation (following the cool reaction to 2021's Cowboy Bebop), reactions to One Piece have been way more positive, and the show has continued to hold onto a spot in the Top 10 shows since its premiere date.
As any longtime One Piece fan will know, this first season only skimmed the surface of Monkey D. Luffy's long-running quest to become the King of the Pirates. With all this in mind, is One Piece season 2 on the cards? Here's what we know right now.
Has One Piece been renewed? Will there be a One Piece season 2?
Netflix has finally confirmed that One Piece season 2 is happening!
Two weeks after the show's debut, One Piece creator delivered the good news (via Transponder Snail) revealing that Netflix had renewed the live-action adaptation of One Piece for a second season.
Oda says in the video that 'it'll still take a while to get the scripts ready' and urged fans to be patient, but in an earlier interview with Variety, CEO of Tomorrow Studios, Marty Adelstein, said: "we've got scripts ready".
Tomorrow Studios President Becky Clements went on to claim that they could have more episodes ready as early as next year, if the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved (as they can't go into production otherwise). "Realistically, hopefully, a year away, if we move very quickly, and that is a possibility. Somewhere between a year and 18 months, we could be ready for air", she said.
So, seems we're still in the dark when it comes to a possible release date. In the meantime, you can check out our picks for the best anime on Netflix if you've already raced through the entirety of One Piece's first season.
What could happen in One Piece season 2?
This section contains spoilers for One Piece - don't read on if you're not caught up.
One Piece's first season followed the events of the anime's first series and drew in elements of the East Blue manga arc, but where could the show go next if it returns?
Thankfully, we've already seen a brief tease of what's to come in a pre-credits scene. At the end of episode 8, just after their cast-off ceremony aboard the Straw Hats' ship, we see a brief glimpse at a new figure whom fans think is the infamous Captain Smoker (owing to his white hair and the two cigars in his hand).
Whilst we don't get to see their face, we see the cigar-smoking Marine burning a hole in a Monkey D. Luffy wanted poster. Like Luffy, Smoker has also eaten a Devil Fruit; he's got the ability to create, control, and turn himself into pure smoke and he comes equipped with a weapon tipped with Seastone, a material that negates Devil Fruit powers. In short, he will be the most dangerous adversary the Straw Hats have crossed paths with in the live-action series.
In the season 2 announcement video, Eiichiro Oda also teased that the Straw Hats 'will need a great doctor', all but confirming that Tony Chopper is due to appear in the forthcoming season.
Speaking to Variety about the show's potential future, co-showrunner Steven Maeda kept pretty quiet both about this new character's exact identity. "I don't want to confirm or deny at this point", he said of the reveal. "But it's a good mystery, I think, and should have people guessing and wondering what's going on."
As for season 2 —and what could come next — he had the following to say: "It's a worthwhile ask — and answers will be forthcoming."
"I don't want to speak on the continuation of One Piece at this point in time, just because the first season was such a bear. It was a wonderful challenge, but it took years out of our lives and I want to really let the focus be on that for the launch."
Of course, there is plenty more material for showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda to draw from, so it only makes sense that they might want to take a pause to consider what adventure to bring to life next. At the time of writing, there are over 1,000 episodes of anime and more than 100 volumes of manga to pick and choose from.
One Piece is now streaming on Netflix.
