‘One Piece’ Cast Guide: Meet the Actors Behind Live-Action Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Sanji and More
Netflix’s live-action take on Eiichiro Oda’s “One Piece” debuted Aug. 31, bringing fans of Oda’s manga into the world of Luffy’s (Iñaki Godoy) exotic pirate adventures in an unprecedented way. As Luffy and his fellow Straw Hat nomads set sail in search of the One Piece treasure, the real-life cast brings Oda’s tales to life in a brighter, newly-imagined manner, all guided by the artists himself.
Oda admitted that he knew the adaption could not be exact, but credited actors like Godoy for helping bring his ideas to fruition in a way that was even better than he planned. “After the launch, I’m sure I’ll hear about some people pointing out how this character is missing or that scene is omitted, or this bit is different from the manga,” Oda said in a statement. “But I’m sure they’ll come from a place of love, so I intend to enjoy even those comments!”
“There were also some lines that I thought didn’t feel like Luffy on paper,” Oda added. “But when I saw the filmed scenes, I went, ‘It works when it’s Iñaki performing it as Luffy! As a matter of fact, it works great!’”
Here are the characters and actors who star in Netflix’s “One Piece.”
Monkey D. Luffy
Iñaki Godoy stars as the lead character, Monkey D. Luffy. He is the optimistic leader of his group of friends, the Straw Hat Pirates, and is determined to become King of the Pirates upon finding the treasure known as One Piece. He is known for his happy-go-lucky personality and kind heart.
Nami
Emily Rudd stars as Nami, a deeply independent thief and cartographer. Series co-creator Matt Owens describes Nami as “kind of like an older sister surrounded by a group of younger brothers.”
Sanji
Taz Skylar plays Sanji, a charming and fashionable chef who dreams of finding the All Blue, the place where fish from all four seas can be found. He works at the restaurant Baratie under Chef Zeff.
Koby
Morgan Davies plays Koby, a shy and anxious character who is initially a crew member on Alvida’s ship Miss Love Duck. Monkey D. Luffy encourages him to pursue his dream of joining the Marines, even though that organization aims to get rid of pirates.
Usopp
Jacob Romero stars as Usopp, a natural storyteller who has the same sharpshooting skills as his father. Series co-creator Steven Maeda calls him “in many ways, the most relatable of the Straw Hats,” and Romero says, “The goodness of his heart was so clear to me.”
Zoro
Mackenyu stars as Zoro, known as the “Pirate Hunter” who wields three swords. He is a loyal friend and wants to become the best swordsman in the world. Mackenyu says that, “Meeting Luffy is the biggest thing to ever happen to Zoro… though, of course, he’d never say that out loud.”
Vice Admiral Garp
Famous for capturing Gold Roger, Kind of the Pirates, Vice Admiral Garp is is constantly on Luffy’s tail trying to stop him from chasing after the One Piece. Played by Vincent Regan (“Before We Die,” “Luther: The Fallen Sun”), Garp also serves as a mentor for the young marines Koby and Helmeppo.
Arlong
The saw shark sword-brandishing Arlong has a 20 million-berry bounty on his head, but is protected by his personal Arlong Pirate Faction. McKinley Belcher III plays this human-targeted pirate who has plans to be the largest power-holder in the world.
Buggy the Clown
The odd-ball, red-nosed Buggy, officially known as the Captain of the Buggy Pirates, uses the powers of the chop-chop fruit to separate his ligaments from his body and control them with his mind. Buggy, played by Jeff Ward, dresses as a mad clown and has a impulsive, rambunctious temper.
Shanks
Shanks, known best for his title as Captain of Red-Haired Pirates, acts as somewhat of a sage to Luffy. Played by Peter Gadiot, Shanks guides Luffy with patiences and compassion despite having a billion-berry bounty out on his head.
Dracule Mihawk
Steven Ward plays this role with a feather in his hat and a grosse messer sword on his hip. Dracule Mihawk, the laser-eyed and enticing swordsman, is known as one of the best knife-slingers in the world, but Zoro has his eyes on that title.
Helmeppo
Son of Captain Axe Hand Morgan, Helmeppo can be a bit bratty and spoiled knowing his father’s iron-grip can get him out of most situations, but is forced to set aside his childish ways when he joins the marines. Played by Aidan Scott (“The Kissing Booth 2,” “Action Point”), Helmeppo is a consistent rival of Luffy and Koby.