When it comes to stats, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece stretches farther than most of its counterparts – almost like the rubbery limbs of the main protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.
The manga series, which Oda started publishing in 1997 in the Shōnen Jump anthology magazine, has over the last 26 years seen more than 500 million copies sold worldwide, establishing itself as not only the best-selling manga in history but one of the most circulated fictions in general. Within the next two years of its release, the manga was turned into an anime series that has now stretched for more than 1000 episodes.
As such, when the announcement of a live-action adaptation was made in 2020, many expected Netflix to invest a lot of resources and time to carefully shape the much-loved series in their own way.
Netflix Budget For Each Episode of One Piece
The moment of truth is finally here as the show starring Iñaki Godoy and Emily Rudd among others premiered on the last day of August. In between these three years or so (from announcement to premiere) Netflix has insisted time and again that they intend to stay true to Oda’s work.
Recently they again made their intentions clear through a post on X, saying their two goals are: 1. Not betray the traditional fans. 2. Have the show be loved by fans who aren’t aware of One Piece’s legacy and storyline.
Adapting manga series has always been a tricky challenge for Hollywood studios, with Kite, Oldboy, and Speed Racers, among others failing to impress fans. However, this time Netflix has seemingly decided to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of delivering a masterpiece of a live-action adaptation.
A look at their expenditure on churning out each episode of the eight-part series shows the American streaming giant has taken the phrase “It takes money to make money” very seriously.
According to Netflixwoche (via the Daily Mail), Netflix committed $17 million per episode, which is around $3 million more than what it cost HBO to make each episode ($14.79 million) of the iconic Game Of Thrones.
The gross budget of the eighth and last season of the fantasy drama was around $90 million for six episodes.
How Much Is Netflix Paying The Stars of One Piece?
As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Judging by the early reactions from fans, it seems Netflix’s spending has delivered a fine show.
One of the biggest takeaways from the One Piece manga and anime series is how likable the Straw Hat Pirates crew is, as they try to discover the mythical treasure known as One Piece under the leadership of their young pirate captain, Monkey D. Luffy.
Season 1 focuses on introducing the fans to the crew, and in particular to D. Luffy, Nami, and Roronoa Zoro. It seems fans have wholeheartedly accepted the actors who are playing the three main characters. Their earnings reflect their importance to the plot.
Godoy (D. Luffy) is the highest-paid actor on the show, taking home a sweet $ 320,000. Mackenyu, who portrays D. Luffy’s right-hand man Zoro, has been paid 220,000. Meanwhile, Rudd, who plays Nami the navigator, earned 200,000 for her contribution in Season 1.
Source: Daily Mail
