When it comes to Netflix live actions for popular anime series, it is often a fail or fly situation. So, when it was announced that One Piece was getting a live-action, fans were skeptical. One of the biggest issues fans have is that the casting doesn’t live up to their expectations. To be honest? Many people felt the same way about the One Piece live-action until it came out. For some reason, all of the roles were perfectly cast! This gained tremendous praise from critics and a thumbs-up from the audience. Out of all of them, the most perfect casting was that of Monkey D. Luffy, played by Inaki Godoi. After all, he is the main character of the show. If you’re wondering how Netflix picked such a good cast, we’re here to explain.
Who Played Luffy in the One Piece Live Action?
Before we get to understanding how the actor for Luffy got his part, let’s learn more about him. The role is played by Inaki Godoy, a Mexican Actor with the talent and charisma to make it big in the industry. Unlike other actors in casting roles who require makeup or work done to look like their respective characters, Godoy naturally fits the Luffy archetype.
He’s youthful and mysterious, with a mischievous side to him. He appears young in both appearance and behavior, further embodying someone who will later be the next Joy Boy. This was his 2nd major role, helping him break into the industry with a hit series.
Finding Someone That The Audience Would Accept
Casting someone for Luffy was not an easy task for the directors. Everyone who was working on the project knew that this needed the audience’s support if it was going to make it big. Ideally, the audience would have wanted an actor whose body could stretch like rubber. But Netflix gave them the next best thing. Godoy was so natural for the role that his CGI Gum Gum Pistol seemed to come naturally to him.
Some hundred actors were considered for the role, much before Godoy was even seen as an option. But it was nearly impossible to find a talent that had the right amount of ‘heart, warmth and chemistry.’ Being Luffy wasn’t simply a role; it had to be a lifestyle. And one thing is for sure: coming across people who are naturally like Luffy is a rare occurrence for many.
Eiichiro Oda’s Constant Supervision
The success of the One Piece live-action may not have been possible if the creator of the manga, Eiichiro Oda, hadn’t weighed in on every major decision. Not only did he get to direct how the show was going to be, but he also had a say in picking the cast members.
Since Oda came up with the characters and plot of One Piece, he was able to identify who would be an ideal fit for the role and who would not. Godoy’s warmth and charm impressed Oda when he met him in the studio in Japan. That even earned him a big hug from the creator of the manga.
This shows that when production houses take in the opinions of people who know the story they’re recreating, it leads to better direction. The fans are already excited to see what the next season’s casting will reveal.
Polishing Him into The Perfect Luffy
Even though Netflix had found their Luffy, turning him into the perfect casting was a lot of work. From Godoy’s own experience, he felt that Luffy was a great listener who didn’t talk often. He understood the character and did his best to do justice to the role. This is seen in the way in which he improved his acting as well as dialogue delivery.
The director made sure that when Luffy was being cast, it would be someone who took action and emotions into long sequences. He wanted to hire an actor who could manage a wide emotional range and maintain drama throughout the frames.
It is also believed that the casting process for the show had started very early on. This is because everyone working on the series wanted ample time to give actors during their audition takes. All of this effort was to find the one person who embodied the main character.
The Hardest Casting Decision of His Life
When asked about the experience, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos claimed that casting Luffy for the One Piece live-action was the hardest task in the company. Everyone who was working on the series knew how popular it was. They were also heavily aware that the audience could make or break the series. That’s why they weren’t willing to take any risks with the casting and auditions.
Marc Jobst, the director of the One Piece live-action film, claimed that unless they got the audience to fall in love with the character, it was useless. They noted how Godoy was able to embody Luffy by going off-script at times and embodying his character.
Hitting The Jackpot!
The casting part was hard until they had found Godoy to auction. Because once he had the support of both the creator of One Piece and Luffy’s voice actor, it was a done deal. There isn’t any higher praise than the OGs of the role saying, ‘I couldn’t picture anyone else playing the part’.
Netflix scored big with their decision to invest in making the One Piece live-action as authentic as possible. It puts an emphasis on the importance of giving casting some real thought. If other live actions took similar approaches, they too could find such success.
Fans can only hope that this level of attention and dedication toward the series continues as it moves into its subsequent seasons. Netflix better keep Godoy on board because, with the impact he’s made, we doubt the fans would ever accept a substitute.
