DEADLINE:When did you discoverOne Pieceand how did you get involved in its live-action adaptation?
I just never did.
This was five years of my life, getting this show made.
(L to R) Mackenyu Arata as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Iñaki Godoy as Luffy in season 1 of One Piece.Netflix
Were there surprises when you watched the showon Netflix?
OWENS: We were very close.
So we were back in post when the strike hit.
One Piece Executive Producer Matt Owens. Photo: Marco Grobb/Netflix
So for having to step away, I still felt like the show was in the best possible hands.
And Oda was still involved, even though we were not communicating about the show.
DEADLINE:Anything you hadnt seen that particularly impressed you?
OWENS: Mihawks introductory scene, the battle on the beach.
That was something that we had talked about a lot.
Its one of the most exciting sequences of the shows first season.
Were you involved in the decision to add it?
OWENS: Yes, pitching that scene.
And I got word that they were going to do it.
DEADLINE:What can you tease about how that sets up the second season?
OWENS: Season 1 ends with Luffy gaining notoriety.
A lot of people are going to know you and know your face.
DEADLINE:Tell us more about that Marine, Captain Smoker?
OWNENS: He is very popular character who reappears throughout the manga at various times.
Hes someone that I thought people would be excited to tease him, knowing what is coming with him.
And it seems to have gotten over well.
But no, we had not gotten into any actual casting yet for Season 2.
DEADLINE:What about another character the series will be introducing in Season 2, Doctor Kureha?
Talk about the outreach to Jamie Lee Curtis and yourrecent IG exchange with herafter she confirmed her interest.
Obviously the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing but can we assume that she will do it?
What can we do?
So we tried to start manifesting this dream of ours.
Hope to speak to you soon.
When she reposted that, it got a lot of fan interest, and I commented on it.
Were trying to manifest it.
Yes, as of right now, SAG is still striking so there have not been real conversations.
But as soon as there can be, Im ready.
I will take her out to dinner, well talk about it.
OWENS: We did start our Season 2 writers room for a little bit before the strike.
But thats as far as we got.
So there are not actually any scripts for the season that are done.
Its still going to take some time.
Weve got some outlines, and we have a really solid plan that we had communication with Oda about.
And we get to take all of that and play with it in the present-day story for us.
And he was like, yeah.
DEADLINE: You mean the writers room is up and running this week, right?
Youre right, weather is something we have to deal with.
South African winter is very windy, very wet, so we really have to plan.
DEADLINE:Is there an overarching theme for Season 2 that you’ve got the option to share?
From Luffys perspective, hes got his crew now, and they are setting out to the Grand Line.
Theyre doing the thing, and there are a lot of challenges that come with that responsibility.
And that theme ties into some other stories and characters that I wont give away just yet.
But the challenge and leadership is a big theme for us in Season 2.
DEADLINE:You alludedto potentially makingadjustments based on fans reactions to Season 1?
Will you make Buggy even moreprominent because he has been such a breakout?
Did you expect that of all characters he would be the one to become a TikTok phenomenon?
OWENS: No, not to the extent that he is.
I was still onS.H.I.E.L.D.when I first started developingOne Piece.
We went out to dinner one night and I said, Hey, Im doing this show.
Take a look at it because theres a character that I really want you for.
So Jeff and I have been talking about Buggy the Clown for years.
It was so fun seeing him embody that character.
So I knew that he would hit, I knew that people would really like him.
DEADLINE:Buggy is still around despite all the terrible things he did.
Why dont villains die on your show?
DEADLINE:What did you learn from Season 1 that you would like to use for Season 2?
We managed to make something that really resonated with people, with newcomers and fans alike.
And so I believe one thing for us to take is to trust ourselves.
Nowhere in the development of this show was it like, Whats the concept?
Its a rubber boy in a straw hat whos a pirate?
Great, Im going to tell my own story with that.
Do you have a goal how many seasons youd like this to go?
OWENS: I do.
I want to go as long as we can.
Theres a lot of source material.
I will make this show until Netflix says no more.
OWENS: Yes, I do keep in touch with them.
I speak to all of the Straw Hats on at least a semi-regular basis.
It was a tough schedule, especially for Inaki.
He is so young, he is a phenomenal actor, and he is a phenomenal human being.
OWENS:Its definitely the End of Episode 7.
It was 2 oclock in the morning, and were shooting.
That is night of shooting that I will never forget because Emily was such a champion in that moment.
Do you want a break?
And she was in it, she just wanted to keep going.
That was just so powerful to me, and I think it translated.
I tear up every time I watch it.
DEADLINE:Were you surprised by the magnitude of the shows success?
OWENS: To be completely honest with you, yes.
And its not because I was not confident in the work that anyone on this show did.
I knew we were making a good show.
And also Im a peasant so I was expecting the worst anyway.
Im so grateful that people see what weve been trying to do, that they appreciate it.
