We’re only a few more weeks away from entering the second half year and Netflix is still playing with our hearts on when we can expect the first trailer or release date for its live-action One Piece adaptation. While many are likely still quite a bit cautious due to their track record with these adaptations, a lot of elements are coming together hinting at this potentially being the one to break the mold with passionate cast and showrunners. Even the manga creator Eiichiro Oda has his hands on the project, confirming that it won’t go out into the world until he approves it.
To hold us over until Netflix drops an official statement, @OP_Netflix_Fan and the detectives over at the One Piece Live-Action Discord server have uncovered another actor playing a familiar role in the live-action adaptation. Buggy’s crew is finally growing with Sven Ruygrok confirming he is set to play Cabaji in Netflix’s One Piece in his CV. Going by it, he has a background in gymnastics and dancing but most notably worked as part of Cirque du Soleil, which makes him an interesting choice for the man commonly unicycling his way through combat.
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) May 14, 2023
It’s great to see them adding an actor that also has the acrobatic skills that match the character from the manga. While it’s unclear just how much we’ll see him jump around or if he’ll primarily be using a unicycle (if at all) but it’s definitely a great little addition to the already stellar cast. Now, we only need to know if he also has a bizarre haircut and a long scarf. They may have shortened it to ensure it doesn’t get in the way during combat; especially if he uses swords.
Netflix is doing its thing again, as it has decided not to move forward with the supernatural detective series, Lockwood & Co. for a second season. The series was based on Jonathan Stroud’s young adult novels and had Joe Cornish bringing the series to life that hit Netflix earlier this year in January. Ruby Stokes took on the leading role of ghost hunter Lucy Carlyle, who ends up establishing her own ghost-busting agency.
While some will discuss why Netflix would once again cancel a series, it seems the viewing numbers just weren’t there to justify another season investment. It does seem like Complete Friction, who was behind the project, is not done working with Netflix and they already have a number of projects in development. They stated that working on Lockwood & Co was “one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers” and were grateful for what they were able to accomplish with the series adaptation.
With heavy hearts, we announce that ‘Lockwood & Co.’ will not be returning for a second series. Making this show was one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers and we will forever treasure it. Being trusted by the supremely talented Jonathan Stroud to adapt his outstanding series of books was an honour and a privilege. Working with him as closely as we did across the development, production and release of Lockwood & Co has made him a friend, and part of the Complete Fiction family, for life.
There was quite some fanfare for the project online, but sadly it seems that it was not up to Netflix’s very strict expectations of how a series should perform. There is uncertainty about how many projects really could live up to that measure, especially given the lack of promotion some of these series get. The higher the budget, the bigger the expectation and it’s getting difficult for some shows to build up an audience with a trailer and a poster shortly before release at times.
Netflix’s One Piece series recently gave us a massive update from the manga creator, Eiichiro Oda. Not only did he confirm the eight-episode count but also went out of his way to highlight his involvement with the project being more than just giving away the rights. He has the final say on when the project releases and while we’re still waiting, some small details keep finding their way online to keep us well-fed until the next official batch drops.
It looks like yesterday’s drop wasn’t everything, as a new set photo has found its way online through @OP_Netflix_Fan. This time around, we get a good look at the cadets that work on the various Marine ships. What stands out is that they have shorter sleeves, which is a bit more reminiscent of one of the designs the Marines have in the One Piece manga. It’s unclear if they purposefully are only giving the cadets shorter sleeves as a way to make an easier distinction of what rank each Marine has.
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) May 12, 2023
It’s great to see more of the Marines, as this is our first real look at them on a ship. There’s a chance this might be part of Garp’s ship that was teased in some of the earlier set leaks. Though, this could also just be a regular Marine ship which is also quite prominent throughout the manga’s long tenure. We can only speculate for now, but it’s great to know that the Marines will have different layers and this might be our first tease at what two prominent characters from the East Blue Saga will be wearing, especially with the tease that they will integrate elements from the saga’s Cover Story.
One of the first things we got to see from the set of Netflix’s live-action One Piece series was the various boats they were building. That wasn’t all at the time, as we also got a first look at what the live-action adaptation of the Marines will look like. Surprisingly, they even included some goofier traits from the comics like their baseball caps.
Now, after the production has long ceased and is pretty much wrapping up its post-production, a new image has seemingly leaked online courtesy of @OP_Netflix_Fan showcasing a fresh look at One Piece’s band of government watchdogs. Sadly, we still have no look at what Garp will look like in his iconic outfit, but the designs still look like they were taken directly from the manga.
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) May 11, 2023
What sticks out is that we have a better look at their swords. Surprisingly though, it doesn’t seem like they have any guns on them, but this might be from the same scene we saw leak all the way back in February of 2022. Given that there’s a big number and the uniforms seem quite similar in design, they might be the ones we meet that are forced to work under Axe Hand Morgan’s rule.
Though, they could also be positioned on Loguetown and report to Smoker, who surprisingly still hasn’t been cast so far. It almost seems like they are still keeping some castings quite close to the chest even with the series potentially only a few months out. For now, we have to see if it’ll be part of a final push towards the series’ release date promotion.
The WGA Strike is going strong, as various productions have been slowly getting paused. Hollywood is still trying to push a few through that have finished scripts; though writers being on set is also an essential aspect to ensure adaptations can happen to tighten scripts along the production timeline. Marvel Studios just recently put a hold on Blade which was set to start production soon.
Oddly though, they are not planning anything for Deadpool 3 as of now but that might just be them playing chicken until production has to start and the script might be deemed more “done” than the other that only recently revealed another writer was attached. Yet, we’re slowly seeing more and more productions affected such as Stranger Things writers and creators the Duffer Brothers confirming they have paused production until the strike is over on Netflix’s flagship series.
Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong
This is a huge blow to the streaming service that greatly has been trying to build up its offerings as it first faced a drop in subscribers not too long ago. They also have been rumored to be one of the big holdouts during the meetings with the WGA. Either way, this is an important move by the Duffer Brothers and a showcase of how important this current strike is.
Streaming services have changed the way we watch our favorite movies and shows, but they also left quite an impact on how writers earn their money. They have smaller writing rooms with a lot more work put on the backs of fewer people. More importantly, they also have less money as a result of this new model and can no longer rely on residuals. Here’s hoping that these talks end in favor of those that create the series and films we love so dearly.
The latest news for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece has finally arrived with an official statemenr by series creator Eichiiro Oda. Yet, after a close inspection and tease by the cast, it seems there’s a lot more here than just an episode count confirmation.
Emily Rudd, who plays Nami in the live-action adaptation, shared a piece on Instagram that Oda drew Nami with her blue-eyes instead of her usual design. Taking a closer look, there are quite a few changes that actually highlight this is the series creator drawing the live-action cast as the characters.
Taz Skylar’s Sanji also is missing his curly eyebrows, which confirm he will have regular ones throughout the first season. Of course, they could just be to simplify the design for these chibi art style but it is part of his design. They could use the curly eyebrows when he reaches a certain story point to have that original design bleed into live-action.
The other major change is Jacob Gibson’s Usopp has a short nose rather than the elongated one from the manga. It was the one change many expected at the time but there’s always a chance it is slightly longer than normal or they bring it back for comedic bits like a running gag of stuff getting stuck on his nose.
Ever since the beginning of our partnership with Eiichiro Oda, we have been working closely to bring the ONE PIECE live action to you — we welcome everyone to this adventurous world! pic.twitter.com/Woki8YZ27H
Still, it may just be a tease for now but it’s certainly highlighting that the show’s release is just on the horizon. Here’s hoping that the actual first look isn’t too far off to confirm what they look like in the costumes that already seemed quite close to the original.
It’s been a long road but after a long bit of silence, we finally get an official update for Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of One Piece. Surprisingly, the news drops is an official statement from series creator Eiichiro Oda to celebrate Monkey D. Luffy’s birthday.
In an official statement, Oda shared the trials he underwent early on trying yo find a compromise between him and Tomorrow Studios, as the cultural differences make such an adaptation quite challenging for everyone involved.
Ever since the beginning of our partnership with Eiichiro Oda, we have been working closely to bring the ONE PIECE live action to you — we welcome everyone to this adventurous world! pic.twitter.com/Woki8YZ27H
He also goes on to highlight that while a 2023 release is confirmed with the posters earlier this year, they promised to not release the series until it has his final stamp of approval, which further highlights just how involved he is with the series.
That is not all, as it also confirms that One Piece won’t consist of ten episodes as previously announced back in 2017. As we shared in January of last year, the series will not consist of eight episodes overall. It’s been a long ride since the news initially broke with mang hints along the way until the final confirmation.
Overall, it’s great to get an update on the series and see the passion Oda has for this franchise. There’s a lot riding on getting this adaptation right for himself, fans, and those involved in production. Showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens have proven their love for the series many times, which adds to the hope even more of finally seeing the first footage.
After releasing two posters back in January, Netflix has gone its usual cold turkey approach to promoting the live-action One Piece series. To be fair, we’ve had far more news than the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender which hasn’t even had a bit of news since production started. Yet, the One Piece fans have been quite proactive in trying to get their hands on any bit of news they can, even if it’s the smallest role.
@OP_Netflix_Fan has seemingly shared the news that One Piece has added composers Sonya Belousova, who was heavily rumored last year, and Giona Ostinelli. Both have worked on Netflix’s other series, The Witcher, which even led to Belousova winning the BMI Streaming Series Award. They were both also nominated for Best Main Title Theme for a TV Show or Limited Series by the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli are the Composers for One Piece Live Action. They previously worked with Netflix on 'The Witcher'. pic.twitter.com/uQrguAOmof
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) April 29, 2023
Joseph Trapanese went on to take over the second season and it is unclear how long they’ve been involved with the series. This has yet to be announced officially by anyone, but a short piece shared by Belousova on her personal Instagram account sparked a lot of theories that it was part of the future soundtrack. We also had a Japanese commercial for the series during TUDUM, which had some speculation if it’s from the series as well.
As we’re still waiting for an official look at the series, it would be great to hear the music alongside the trailer rather than the usual popular hit song that most trailers use. Luckily, Netflix has seemingly avoided that trope in its fantasy trailers and it would be great to see if that piece teased so long ago is actually in the series. There’s also the fun question if the classic pirate instrument, the Hurdy-Gurdy gets used.
Seems Netflix is cleaning the house, as one of its longest-running shows is coming to an end. Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg’sBig Mouth has been renewed for an eighth season ahead of the release of its latest season. The big twist is that the show about kids going through their puberty, which manifests itself into different types of creatures, will be ending with that season.
But wait folks, there’s more as Human Ressources, a spinoff show of Big Mouth, is also set to return for a final season. It only got two seasons in total and the spinoff is set to arrive later this year. What does make this stand out is that Big Mouth’s eighth season also will act as a send-off to both entries due to how they connected in the past.
Kroll shared the following statement as a joke referencing the series coming to an end:
If you would have told adolescent Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg that middle school would take 8 years to finish, they would have been like ‘yeah, that sounds about right. This seems like it will never end.
Nick Kroll
With this cancelation, Big Mouth is the longest-running series in Netflix’s library of originals that isn’t categorized under Kids & Family. This renewal puts it ahead of Grace & Franky, which ran for a total of seven seasons. With a live-action adaptation of One Piece on the horizon, perhaps it might break its record given just how long the manga has been running; if it turns out to be quite popular of course.
The show’s popularity had many surprised given its very in-depth but fantastical look at hormones, becoming an adult, sexuality, and coming of age. Both entries combined have reached one billion hours viewed on Netflix and have been watched by 50M+ households.
There was a lot of fanfare surrounding the potential that was the 30th anniversary special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. Familiar faces returned to take on their iconic roles once again in a special that also aimed to pay tribute to the tragic passing of Thuy Trang. It felt like it would potentially be the tribute we always wanted for our iconic childhood pretending to be Power Rangers ourselves while watching the show. With the special finally out, does it live up to the nostalgia?
It would be strange to say that it does and doesn’t really live up to what you might expect from this type of tribute. The thing is: as a modern take on the iconic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series, it works incredibly well. It has that same goofy and over-the-top action from the original. Even from the opening, it just feels like you’re a kid again watching an episode that just happens to be quite a bit shinier and of higher quality.
The costumes look just as goofy as they always do, but they don’t shy away at all from that era. Walter Emanuel Jones is back as Zack joined by David Yost as Billy Cranston, who are technically headlining the project. Steve Cardenas‘ Rocky and Catherine Sutherland’s Katherine also appear with franchise newcomer Charlie Kersh. Sadly, not everyone from the original line-up was around but the series tries to pay tribute to their characters; even if the use of Jason David Frank’s voice (may he rest in peace) for the Green Ranger was mired with controversy.
The biggest surprise about this project is that it actually follows the franchise’s in-universe canon. Rita’s return actually makes sense given the events of the original Power Rangers in Space where Zordon unleashed the Z-wave to defeat all evil. There are a lot of callbacks to the various storylines and Rangers that existed even if they were just little toys in the background that never actually show up. This is definitely a part of the original franchise that still knows what has happened in the past 30 years.
Yet, as much as I loved it as someone who grew up with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a lot of it just doesn’t hold up well. They tried to replicate the original series as much as possible, but that comes at the detriment of its overall quality. Outside of it being shot quite nicely beside a few jarring cuts, there’s just a lot lacking to make this feel like an evolution of the franchise rather than a time capsule. The acting across the board is very wooden and while you know it’s a labor of love, there’s a lack of really trying to give a performance.
there’s also something with the audio that makes it a bit awkward at times. Charlie Kersch’s performance is quite over-the-top and is definitely performing a role fit for a Nickelodeon series. Barbara Goodson and Richard Steven Horvitz give very over-the-top performances but it works as if they are doing voice work for robotic characters. There’s just a combination of overacting and underacting creating this strange disconnect, especially with some ADR making some scenes a bit more awkward than they need to be.
The same goes for the CG work in these series. It’s strange that they pay tribute with some wonderful costumes and environment work that pays tribute to the original series and its Sentai roots, but the VFX by the end ends up as what the Internet pretends Marvel CG looks like. Seeing the Zords was such a delight, as their introduction sequence paying tribute to the original actually looks incredible but once the Zord is fully formed it turns into a slightly better look from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie. Don’t get me started on the weird car.
What does make up for it is the overall action, as not only does it pay tribute to the original in clever ways with shot composition but it’s the thing that feels the most fleshed out. The cheesy one-liners also add to the charm of what’s happening on screen. Even if the story just rushes through plot points that seemingly have no real connection (and sometimes feel a bit half-baked), there’s still a lot of fun to have as a Mighty Morphin fan.
That’s kind of the struggle I have with this special. I love how it just goes out of its way to be a modern take on the original but it also feels like they could’ve done so much more. It’s special to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary but it creates this feeling that it hasn’t really evolved after all this time. Having rewatched recent Nickelodeon entries, it sadly continues to feel that way and this may be a final hurrah before Netflix’s ambitious new Power Rangers take finds its way to the streaming service.
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