One Piece star Emily Rudd has teased that season 3 of the hit adaptation will take a noticeably different tonal approach compared to the first two seasons.
Based on Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga, One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy and his growing pirate crew as they search for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. The Netflix series stars Iñaki Godoy as Luffy alongside Rudd as Nami, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar. Since debuting in 2023, the show has been praised for successfully translating the beloved anime and manga into live action while maintaining its adventurous tone and colourful world-building.
Speaking with Collider, Rudd teased how the next season will still include the series’ signature wacky energy while also exploring a more grounded emotional core. According to the actor, the story being told in season 3 may resonate with audiences in a more direct and timely way than earlier seasons. Read her comments below:
I know this is crazy to say about One Piece, and it’s still got the wacky wild elements, but the root of the story that we are telling for Season 3 is grounded. I think more than Season 2 and Season 1, the through-line is something that I think a lot of people in America, across the world, can see and understand and be like, “Oh, I think I’ve maybe experienced this in some way, shape, or form. This is very timely.’”And hopefully it’s a story of hope for them all.
While One Piece is known for its fantastical elements, exaggerated characters, and otherworldly locations, Rudd’s comments suggest that the next season will likely focus more on the human side of the story.
The Straw Hat crew in One Piece season 2
The tonal shift Rudd teased likely ties into the storyline expected to be adapted in the next installment. One Piece season 3 is widely expected to adapt the Alabasta saga, one of the most important arcs in the original manga and anime.
In this storyline, the Straw Hat Pirates travel to the desert kingdom of Alabasta alongside Princess Vivi (Charithra Chandran) as they attempt to stop a brewing civil war orchestrated by the criminal organization Baroque Works. The arc centers on the villain Crocodile, the secretive leader of Baroque Works, whose political manipulation threatens to plunge the kingdom into chaos.
The Alabasta storyline carries larger political and emotional stakes. The arc explores themes of leadership, misinformation, rebellion, and loyalty, which could explain why the season will be more grounded despite the show’s inherently fantastical setting.
One Piece season 2 sees Luffy, Nami, Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Romero), and Sanji (Skylar) travelling to the Grand Line, a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. The group visits bizarre islands, recruits more allies, and battles formidable new foes as they search for the world’s greatest treasure.
With each season expanding the world of One Piece by introducing new islands, villains, and allies, gradually building toward larger conflicts across the Grand Line, the Alabasta saga is expected to take center stage in season 3, with the show’s scale and stakes set to grow significantly.
Rudd’s comments suggest that while fans can still expect the humor, action, and larger-than-life characters that define One Piece, while introducing a stronger emphasis on the emotional and political consequences of its story. If that balance succeeds, season 3 could mark one of the most impactful chapters yet in Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of Oda’s legendary pirate adventure.
One Piece season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Release Date
August 31, 2023
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz
Iñaki Godoy
Monkey D. Luffy
