Since the release of the first season in August 2023, fans of the live-action series One Piece have been eagerly awaiting the release of Season 2. Some were banking on the end of 2024. Then, others hoped for a release in 2025. Unfortunately, Netflix has just shattered their hopes during the Tudum event, held on May 31, 2025.
More time than expected before the release of Season 2
The streaming giant has indeed made the series' release window official. Showrunner Matt Owens had already avoided the question during Geeked Week. Today, we know that this is because the team knew that the release would not take place in 2025.
It is therefore confirmed that season 2 will not be released in 2025, but in 2026. Furthermore, no specific month has been communicated. At most, we can hope for a release at the very beginning of the year.
This delay thus results in a break of at least two and a half years between the two seasons. This is quite long, especially since the series had managed to seduce with a faithful and ambitious adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's cult manga. And this prolonged silence could be costly in terms of engagement and popularity.
Nevertheless, there is the fact that the success of the first season set the bar very high. Netflix can't make any mistakes, and everything must be carefully prepared. The schedule also depends on the actors' availability, filming conditions, and post-production requirements.
A huge technical challenge
To compensate, Netflix took the opportunity to reveal the very first glimpse of Tony Chopper. We now know that the famous doctor from The Going Merry is finally joining the live-action version. He is entirely computer-generated (CGI), with actress Mikaela Hoover providing vocal and facial interpretation.
Netflix's Chopper is a 60 cm tall humanoid reindeer. He speaks, changes shape... To make him credible in live-action, Netflix mobilized a team of experts, and the result seems to be up to scratch. The first images were appreciated by fans on social media.
The manga creator, Eiichiro Oda, also expressed his satisfaction with this creation through this message:
After intensive testing and adjustments, the day has come to reveal it to you! Its appearance, its fur, its expressions, its voice… a world-class team worked hard to bring it to life.
Nico Robin and new iconic locations
Season 2 will also introduce Nico Robin, the crew's archaeologist. She will be played by Lera Abova, who will first appear as a Baroque Works agent, alongside Crocodile. Her power, derived from the Devil Fruit, will also require sophisticated special effects.
The series will also explore new iconic locations from the manga:
- Drum Island, where Chopper enters the scene
- Loguetown, the last city before the Grand Line
- and possibly Little Whiskey
Each arc promises its share of characters, fights, and revelations.
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