During Anime Expo 2023, it was announced that the original Japanese voice-acting cast would return to their roles in the upcoming One Piece live-action series. According to Deadline, Mayumi Tanaka (Castle In The Sky), the original voice for Monkey D. Luffy, welcomed Iñaki Godoy (The Imperfects) in a video during the Los Angeles Anime Expo.

During the video, Tanaka shared, “I’ve been voicing Luffy for more than 23 years now, and I think everyone has a little bit of Luffy in their heart. Iñaki, who performs Luffy in this live-action series, is so fun and joyful that he really makes a perfect Luffy! I’m very happy to be able to voice Luffy in this adaptation as well.” He continued his statement, saying, “One Piece is a story whose words and images can resonate with you in different ways depending on your situation or perspective at any given moment, allowing for new discoveries all the time. And, of course, nothing would bring me greater joy than if people who’ve never experienced One Piece can become part of the family beginning with this show.”

The rest of the original series cast members include Hiroaki Hirata (Saiyuki) as Sanji, Akemi Okamura (Lovely Complex) as Nami, Kappei Yamaguchi (Death Note) as Usopp, and Kazuya Nakai (Gintama) as Roronoa Zoro. The widely known anime series One Piece was based on the works of Eiichiro Oda’s manga series that told the story of Monkey D. Luffy, who embarks on a journey to a treasure, One Piece, that will make him the King of the Pirates.

In the new live-action playing the beloved characters, we have Emily Rudd (Hunters) as Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson (Greenleaf) as Usopp, and Mackenyu (Knights of the Zodiac) as Roronoa Zoro. Fans of the anime can be excited about this upcoming project from Netflix and can tune in to see the live-action on August 31st.