Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix, reveals that casting One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy grew to become an enormous problem for the corporate. Based mostly on the favored manga collection, One Piece follows a gaggle of pirates in the hunt for legendary treasure, and Iñaki Godoy portrays their younger, high-spirited captain. Except for his distinctive character, Luffy is thought for being rubber-like, a results of the Gum-Gum Fruit, and donning a straw hat. Since its launch, One Piece has boasted spectacular viewership numbers, and Godoy’s efficiency continues to earn reward.

In the course of the firm’s Q3 2023 earnings interview, shared by Netflix Investor Relations, Sarandos revealed that casting Luffy was one of many greatest challenges “within the historical past of our authentic programming.” He famous how Godoy was already part of Who Killed Sara?, however added that following the debut of One Piece, he grew to become a “world famous person.” Learn Sarandos’ feedback relating to the casting of Luffy under:

Iñaki Godoy, who stars within the present, it was — one of the vital troublesome casting challenges within the historical past of our authentic programming was who’s gonna play Monkey D. Luffy. And he was proper underneath our nostril, proper in our expertise household. We found him a few years in the past and had him on this nice present in our Mexican collection known as Who Killed Sara?, after which we have been in a position to forged him on this, and now he is a worldwide famous person. So that is that sort of factor you may do effectively, a factor that is laborious to repeat and offers us sort of aggressive operating room from our rivals, with the ability to try this increasingly.

How Netflix’s One Piece Obtained Luffy’s Casting Proper

Luffy is the principle protagonist of One Piece, desperate to assemble his personal crew and find the well-known treasure, which might make him King of the Pirates. He is a really dynamic character, and regardless of his lighthearted nature, Luffy is ready to arise for himself and others, even at a younger age. Previous to the present’s launch, Eiichiro Oda, creator of the manga, revealed that he had some issues over the potential casting, nevertheless, he additionally defined that Godoy was excellent for the half, noting how comparable the actor was to Luffy.

When bringing a beloved supply materials to life, getting the correct expertise on board is all the time pivotal. By way of the casting course of for One Piece, director Marc Jobst beforehand shared completely with Display Rant how laborious it was to search out Luffy. He added that Godoy managed to make an impression, pertaining to the actor’s personal character and revealing that he went off-script. Whereas there are slight adjustments to Luffy’s character within the Netflix adaptation, Godoy’s charismatic efficiency appears to have gained audiences over.

It is fascinating to listen to how Sarandos’ feedback echo these of others, and to consider what the casting for One Piece may need appeared like earlier than Godoy. Followers of the present seemingly agree that your best option was made, and may look ahead to seeing extra of Luffy in future seasons now that Netflix is actively engaged on season 2 following its debut success.

Supply: Netflix Investor Relations