One Pieceseason 3 is looking increasingly likely to happen on Netflix, but the story it will cover means one streaming pitfall must be avoided. When thelive-actionOne Pieceadaptationfirst entered production, expectations were predictably muted due to the long line of failed attempts at translating popular anime and manga franchises into the format.One Piecemiraculously bucked that trend, enjoying widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. As such, anticipation forOne Pieceseason 2is that much hotter, with the cautious trepidation that preceded season 1 replaced by a feverish enthusiasm for more live-action adventures.
At the time of writing,One Pieceseason 2 is without a release date. Filming is confirmed to have wrapped, and a LEGO collaboration announced a late 2025 release window that Netflix then hastily rescinded. WithOne Pieceseason 1 releasing in August 2023, it seems there will be at least a two-year gap before the voyage continues. Such long waits are rapidly becoming commonplace for Netflix - and, indeed, streaming more generally - withStranger ThingsandWednesdayjust two prime examples. One Pieceseason 3 cannot afford to follow the trend.
One Piece Season 2 Sets Up Something Bigger
While the wait forOne Pieceseason 2 has felt longer than one of Eiichiro Oda’s famous flashbacks,season 1 at least concluded on a definitive note. Iñaki Godoy’s Monkey D. Luffy successfully defeated Arlong to become the strongest pirate in the East Blue, then sailed toward the Grand Line and the next chapter of his journey to become Pirate King. WhileOne Pieceseason 2 will pick up theBaroque Works teasesscattered across previous episodes, the new installments will otherwise cover different islands, fresh characters, and as-yet-unseen villains.
The battle against Baroque Works that will dominateOne Piece’s second season serves as a direct prelude to the fight for Arabasta.
That will not be the case forOne Pieceseason 3. According to Oda himself, Netflix’s upcoming season will adapt from Loguetown to Drum Kingdom, leaving the Arabasta saga for season 3. WhereasOne Piece’s first two seasons had the benefit of a clean narrative break, therefore,seasons 2 and 3 will be more like “Part 1” and “Part 2” of the same story. The battle against Baroque Works that will dominateOne Piece’s second season serves as a direct prelude to the fight for Arabasta that will be covered in season 3, withJoe Manganiello’s Crocodilethe overarching antagonist throughout.
One Piece Season 3’s Story Means It Can’t Take As Long As Season 2 To Release
Viewers Shouldn’t Have To Wait As Long For Resolution
While two or three year gaps between seasons are becoming the norm for major streaming shows, the natural story bridge betweenOne Pieceseasons 2 and 3 means the next wait cannot be as lengthy.One Pieceseason 2 won’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger per se (though it certainly could), but the finale will still leave major questions unresolved. Can Luffy defeat Crocodile? Can Vivi save Arabasta? What does Baroque Works really want? All of thesestory threads will run throughoutOne Pieceseason 2, but are unlikely to be answered until season 3.
The best way to enjoyOne Piece’s forthcoming tale will be for season 2 to release in one go, then for season 3 to follow between 12 and 18 months down the line.
A year or 18 months betweenOne Pieceseasons 2 and 3 might be tolerable, but waiting two years or more to resolve plot points audiences are already invested in will only generate frustration.It would be likeOne Piece’s debut season ending with Luffy still working up to his battle against Arlong, and while Nami’s reason for betraying the Straw Hats is still unclear, then two/three years passing beforeOne Pieceseason 1’s finaleeventually gets released.
For similar reasons,One Pieceseason 2 must also avoid another increasingly common, and equally controversial, streaming issue: the dreaded split releases. Netflix’s standard model for TV originals used to be dumping all episodes at once, but the platform’s most prominent titles are gradually shifting toward a system where seasons are split in half and released several months apart.
One Piece Season 2’s Release Date Update Confirms The Netflix Live-Action Show’s Biggest Challenge In Adapting The Anime
One Piece season 2’s release window has been revealed by Netflix, and it confirms what the live-action show’s biggest challenge will be.
This must be avoided forOne Pieceseason 2, and also for season 3, because the next two runs are already acting as a two-part narrative. If Netflix splitsOne Pieceseason 2 and then does the same for season 3, audiences will effectively be getting one big arc separated over four different releases, which risks diminishing the story’s momentum and impact. The best way to enjoyOne Piece’s forthcoming tale will be for season 2 to release in one go, then for season 3 to follow between 12 and 18 months down the line.
The Reason To Be Optimistic About One Piece Season 3’s Release Date
One Piece Season 3 Won’t Necessarily Be As Late As Shanks Was At Marineford
It goes without saying that an effects-heavy production likeOne Piece, which also incorporates dazzling sets and purpose-built ships in order to authentically recreate Eiichiro Oda’s world, takes time to put together. As much as waiting for new episodes can be annoying from a viewer’s perspective,a high-quality end product is worth the wait, and season 1proved beyond doubt how stunningOne Piececan look in live-action. Speeding up the conveyor belt at the expense ofOne Piece’s production values is not an effective way to secure the live-action show’s future.
A shorter gap between seasons 2 and 3 is within the realms of possibility.
Having said that, there must also be a balance between meeting a high bar of quality and getting episodes onto Netflix in a timely manner. The need to craft season 2 with care must be balanced against the fact thatit would be detrimental to the show’s enjoyment ifOne Pieceseasons 2 and 3 were separated by a large gap. Fortunately, there are several reasons to be hopeful thatOne Pieceseason 3will come around sooner rather than later.
WhileNetflix has not officially green-litOne Piecefor a third seasonquite yet, all indications suggest production is happening almost immediately off the back of season 2. ActorBrashaad Mayweather claimedOne Piecewas “filming two seasons, seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back,” while fellowOne Piececast member Vincent Regansaid, “I guess they’ll start filming season 3 pretty soon” in December 2024. A listing on theWGA website alsoshows a listing forOne Pieceseason 3, seemingly solidifying the prospects of a continuation.
One Piece Season 2 Has A Golden Opportunity To Turn A Joke Anime Character Into A Major Villain
One Piece season 2 will include Chopper’s live-action debut, and the Netflix show has the chance to turn a joke villain into a menacing “final boss.”
One Piece’s first two seasons also had to contend with delays caused by extenuating circumstances that, hopefully, future seasons will not.One Pieceseason 1 unfortunately collided with the early days of the pandemic, while season 2 was one of many shows that fell victim to the Hollywood strikes. Consequently,One Piece’s current production rate may not provide an entirely accurate reflection of how the schedule will always be, giving hope that a shorter gap between seasons 2 and 3 is within the realms of possibility.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
