ONE PIECE Stars Talk About the “Incredible Pressure” to Deliver New Seasons as Fast as Possible
Even though One Piece Season 2 recently was released on on Netflix, fans are eager for the next chapter of the Straw Hat crew’s live-action adventure, and it turns out the cast feels that same urgency.
The series exploded in popularity when it debuted, and now the people bringing the characters to life know there’s a lot riding on keeping the momentum going.
While the adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s legendary manga still has a massive ocean of story left to cover, the team behind the show is fully aware that fans want new seasons sooner rather than later.
During a conversation with Collider, Emily Rudd, who plays Nami in the live-action series, talked about the balancing act of delivering episodes quickly while still making sure the quality holds up. The production relies on a mix of practical filmmaking and heavy post-production work, which naturally takes time.
"There’s a certain amount of time that we have to put into post-production. We have so much that we have to add to the show, even though a lot of what we do is practical. But I think we're all keen to move at a pace that is as quick as humanly possible, so that's what we're doing."
Rudd isn’t the only one feeling that pressure. Taz Skylar, who plays Sanji, explained that the demand to get new seasons out is very real.
"There is an incredible pressure to put them out as quickly as humanely possible.”
Meanwhile, Jacob Romero, who brings Usopp to life, pointed out that the production team is continuing to refine the technical side of the show as it grows.
"The mix of CGI and practicality is definitely a formula that, I think, as a production, we're honing in on and getting more efficient and fantastic."
That blend of practical sets, visual effects, and large-scale action sequences is part of what made One Piece such a huge success for Netflix in the first place. Translating Oda’s colorful and often outrageous world into live action isn’t easy, so the creative team has to balance speed with making sure the final product still looks awesome.
Right now, fans are still waiting on official release details for One Piece Season 3. What we do know is that production began in South Africa in November 2025. The upcoming season will also expand several characters’ roles.
Mikaela Hoover (Chopper), Lera Abova (Miss All Sunday), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Cobra), and Joe Manganiello (Crocodile) have all been upgraded to series regulars.
Season 2 has only just arrived, but the show is already dominating Netflix. The new season quickly climbed to the streamer’s #1 spot this week, and critics seem just as excited as the audience.
The latest batch of episodes currently holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and so far I’m enjoying the hell out of it!
Outside the live-action series, the One Piece universe is also moving forward in other ways. Oda recently revealed that he has finally written down the true meaning of the One Piece itself as the manga approaches its endgame.
Some hardcore fans even believe they’ve figured out where the treasure could be located in the real world, and there are plans in motion to try and recover the container believed to hold it.
Meanwhile, the long-running One Piece anime is set to return this April, giving fans another reason to jump back into the Grand Line.