The Straw Hat Pirates are heading into new waters, and they are not alone. Netflix has released the first images from the highly anticipated second season of the live-action “One Piece,” giving fans a look at new characters, including a massive whale and a familiar face from “Game of Thrones.” The new season, officially titled “One Piece: Into the Grand Line,” is scheduled to set sail in 2026.
Production on Season 2 has officially wrapped, and the series has already been renewed for a third season. The upcoming season will follow Luffy and his crew as they finally enter the Grand Line, the legendary and dangerous sea they spent much of the first season trying to reach.
A New Guardian at the Twin Capes
The newly released images introduce two key characters the Straw Hats will meet early in their journey. The first is Laboon, a gigantic and friendly Island Whale. The second is his caretaker, Crocus, who will be played by Clive Russell.
Fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” will recognize Russell as Ser Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully. In “One Piece,” his character, Crocus, is a multi-talented figure who serves as a doctor and the keeper of the Twin Cape Lighthouse, which guides ships from Reverse Mountain into the Grand Line. In one of the released photos, Crocus is seen relaxing in a red shirt and round glasses, calmly reading a newspaper.
Russell shared his thoughts on his character’s connection to Laboon, saying, > “When I first met Laboon, it was a baby whale. Laboon is a positive character in his life, and yet, what we are looking at around here is like something with enormous power and extraordinarily vulnerable. So maybe that’s the Crocus connection. His aloneness is a kind of vulnerability. It’s very touching being here.”
The Journey Into the Grand Line
According to the official synopsis, Season 2 will see Luffy and the Straw Hats face “fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet.” The story will cover several key locations from the original manga, including Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, and Drum Island.
Loguetown, known as the “town of the beginning and the end,” is the site where the Pirate King Gold Roger was executed. Reverse Mountain is a treacherous and towering summit where many pirates have perished before even reaching the Grand Line. It is at the foot of this mountain that the crew encounters Laboon and Crocus.
Series co-showrunner Matt Owens has confirmed that the beloved reindeer-boy hybrid, Tony Tony Chopper, will be introduced this season, voiced by Mikaela Hoover. The show’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, visited the set in South Africa and expressed his excitement, writing, > “My own casting selections were made from Japan over photos and videos, but seeing them all in person convinced me: They were absolutely the perfect choice!”
A Growing Cast of Characters
The cast for the second season has expanded significantly with over twenty new members. The main Straw Hat crewโIรฑaki Godoy (Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp), and Taz Skylar (Sanji)โare all returning.
They will be joined by a host of new actors playing key roles, including:
- Callum Kerr as the marine Captain Smoker
- Julia Rehwald as Tashigi
- Joe Manganiello as the villainous Mr. 0 / Crocodile
- Lera Abova as Miss All-Sunday / Nico Robin
- Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha
- Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday
The scale of production is also set to increase. New co-showrunner Joe Tracz promised fans “an even more giant Season 2,” though the exact number of episodes has not been confirmed. With new locations, new enemies, and new allies, the adventure for the One Piece is only just beginning.
Also Read: One Piece Season 2 Releases First Look at Live-Action Laboon the Whale
