A new era is coming for the live-action fans of Netflix’s One Piece as the sophomore season is making its way to our screens in 2026. The first season, released in 2023, was a phenomenal success, drawing praise from several quarters for its faithful adaptation of one of Shonen’s top action-fantasy series. The original source material is known for its over-the-top sequences, but Netflix managed to deliver a season that kept audiences engaged. Ahead of the second season, which is officially titled Into the Grand Line, there are hopes that the high standards will be maintained, although Season 1 was still criticized in one major area.
While Netflix’s first attempt was widely appreciated, longtime fans of the material still voiced criticisms regarding how the story was handled. These objections included questions regarding subtle story changes, but mainly, a lack of action was a major sticking point. A major example of the reduced battle scenes is featured in Luffy’s (Iñaki Godoy) fight against Arlong (McKinley Belcher III). While the original source material saw that confrontation last a long time, Netflix’s adaptation offered a shorter encounter. Season 2 will look to change that narrative and do so efficiently, as the sophomore season is already expected to make a violent return. More importantly, one of the show’s main characters has embraced the idea of adding more action. Earlier this year, Mackenyu, the actor who plays the sword-wielding Zoro, addressed the issue upfront, promising a deadlier and cooler version of himself.
In what looks like a commitment to fulfilling that promise, a recently released teaser for Season 2 shows Zoro set for intense combat. As Monkey D. Luffy and his companions head into the Grand Line, one of their stops will be at Whiskey Peak, the lone city on the curious locale of Cactus Island. Here, the Straw Hats will encounter one of the Warlords of the Sea, even as Zoro takes on a hundred bounty hunters from the Baroque Works syndicate led by Joe Maganiello‘s Crocodile. The teaser captures Zoro at that moment, which is one of the swordmaster’s most intense fight sequences. Also, the introduction of a new pair of steely companions also points to action on a far greater scale than before.
The Quest for the ‘One Piece’ Continues in ‘Into the Grand Line’
There has been a shake-up in the setup of the creative nexus of One Piece behind the scenes as Matt Owens, who served as executive producer and co-showrunner for the first two seasons of the series, is replaced by co-executive producer Ian Stokes, who will step up as co-showrunner alongside Joe Tracz. Season 2 will welcome new faces, including Lera Abova as Miss All-Sunday, Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, Callum Kerr as Captain Smoker, and Brendan Murray as Brogy, among others. Familiar faces such as Nami (Emily Rudd), Sanji (Taz Skylar), and Usopp (Jacob Romero) will join the likes of Zoro and Luffy as the search for the titular treasure continues.
One Piece Season 2, Into the Grand Line, sails onto Netflix sometime in 2026. Additionally, Season 3 is already confirmed, with production set to begin next month in Cape Town. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates!
- Release Date
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August 31, 2023
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Owens
- Directors
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Tim Southam, Marc Jobst, Josef Kubota Wladyka
- Writers
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Tiffany Greshler, Diego Gutierrez, Allison Weintraub, Lindsay Gelfand
- Franchise(s)
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One Piece
