Netflix’s adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s anime One Piece debuted a few days ago on August 31, 2023, and fans are already looking forward to watching more episodes. Indeed, the eight-hour series has already been extensively watched. So, is there a possibility of season 2 of the series?
The adaptation follows the Straw Hat Pirates and their captain, Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy), who travel far and wide across the ocean in search of the ultimate treasure, ‘One Piece,’ which will lead him to become the King of the Pirates.
Although the series concludes with an optimistic outlook for the crew, they haven’t yet discovered the ‘One Piece’ they need, potentially leaving room for additional episodes.
It’s worth highlighting that each episode of One Piece purportedly carried a significant production price tag, estimated at around $18 million USD per episode. As a result, the development of a second season, comprising eight episodes, could potentially necessitate a minimum budget of $150 million.
Therefore, Netflix’s decision to greenlight a second season will heavily hinge on the initial performance and success of the first season.
One Piece Season 1 has Achieved Remarkable Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes
The series has been naturally gaining traction on X, previously known as Twitter, in the UK, Brazil, Thailand, France, Spain, and the US. It’s also been generating discussions on Reddit.
What’s more, within hours of its Netflix launch, One Piece had achieved an impressive 94% Audience Score based on more than 2,500 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the true evaluation will occur next week when Netflix discloses viewership statistics for One Piece‘s debut weekend.
To provide some context, one of Netflix’s recent TV favorites, Wednesday, garnered 341.23 million hours of viewership during its first week back in November 2022. This would roughly convert to about 43 million views (hours viewed divided by total runtime), which is how Netflix now reports its audience data.
Even if One Piece doesn’t surpass Wednesday‘s numbers, it still has significant potential to be deemed a success. For instance, Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 amassed around 286 million hours of viewership in its premiere week, which is below Wednesday but still a substantial figure for any Netflix content. Only time will tell where One Piece might fall.
One Piece Season 2: What To Expect?
Season one alone sums up the plot of a staggering 61 episodes, indicating that the live-action adaptation has only just begun to delve into the extensive narrative.
Throughout the animated series, Luffy’s crew expanded to encompass several members, including Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbei, and Nefertari Vivi, potentially suggesting the introduction of new characters in the upcoming second season.
Adapting anime into a live-action has proven to be a challenging endeavor, with many adaptations, including Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop series in 2021 and the 2009 Fox film Dragonball Evolution, falling short due to alterations in character portrayals and storyline deviations.
With this in mind, Netflix invested seven years in the adaptation of One Piece, collaborating closely with the creator, Eiichiro Oda, and engaging directors with a deep appreciation for Japanese comics.
Although a second season has not been officially confirmed, the positive reception suggests a strong demand for further adventures in the Straw Hat Crew’s saga.
Source: Deadline
