Can Netflix Even Adapt All of One Piece? Yes, But It Will Take a Very Long Time

Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piecewas an instant hit, proving that the series had the potential to break the anime-to-live-action curse. With the success of season one, fans are now speculating about whether Netflix can realistically adapt the entire story. Given that One Piece is one of the longest-running manga and anime franchises, bringing the entire story to live action would be a massive undertaking, requiring years of commitment, significant financial backing, and meticulous planning.

While it may seem impossible, Netflix does have a path forward, though it will be a long one. The key factors to consider are how many seasons it would take to cover the whole story, whether the adaptation can maintain its momentum, and how the cast and production challenges will impact long-term feasibility. If Netflix is willing to invest the time and resources necessary, there is a real chance they could see the journey through to the end.

How Many Seasons Would It Take?

Mapping Out Netflix’s One Piece Seasons

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Estimating the number of seasons required to cover One Piece is challenging due to the massive volume of content. Season one of the One Piece live-action series covered the East Blue Saga, adapting 96 manga chapters in just eight episodes. If this pace continues, the series could require at least 15 seasons to reach the current storyline, assuming 8-10 episodes per season and roughly 100 chapters adapted each time.

Luffy from live-action One Piece and Charithra Chandran from Bridgerton

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Following this structure, season two would likely cover the Arabasta Saga, concluding with Nico Robin joining the crew. Season three could encompass Skypiea, while season four would handle the Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs. Thriller Bark and Sabaody Archipelago might fit into season five, with Marineford and the time skip occurring in season six. The post-time skip arcs, such as Dressrosa and Whole Cake Island, could take up multiple seasons before reaching the massive Wano Arc. The final saga, which is still ongoing in the manga, might take up the last few seasons, depending on how much remains to be told.

Can Netflix Maintain the Pace?

The Challenge of Keeping Up with One Piece’s Epic Story

The biggest challenge in adapting One Piece is maintaining a consistent release schedule while making sure it has high production quality. If Netflix can commit to releasing one season per year, it could take a decade or more to complete the adaptation. This would require careful planning, long-term contracts for key actors, and a structured production timeline to prevent excessive delays.

Other shows, such as Game of Thrones, have managed large-scale productions with complex world-building, proving that it is possible. However, unlike Game of Thrones, which was adapted from incomplete source material, One Piece already has a reliable roadmap. With Eiichiro Oda actively involved in the adaptation process, the live-action series could streamline the storytelling and condense certain arcs while still staying faithful to the original.

To keep momentum, Netflix would need to invest heavily in pre-planning, allowing for multiple seasons to be in production simultaneously. This would help minimize gaps between releases and prevent excessive delays that could lead to audience fatigue or declining interest over time.

Production Challenges and Long-Term Viability

The Real-World Obstacles of a Decade-Long Adaptation

Luffy in One Piece anime and live-action

One major hurdle for a long-term adaptation of One Piece is the aging of its actors. The story spans several years, and while anime characters remain visually unchanged, real actors will inevitably age. If production slows down too much, it could become difficult to maintain continuity, especially for younger cast members. The studio would need to accelerate production to keep the actors’ appearances consistent with their characters' timelines.

Roronoa Zoro Blocking Attacks from Baroque Works Agent in first One Piece live action appearance

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Additionally, One Piece contains increasingly complex action sequences, fantastical settings, and larger-than-life characters, all of which require extensive CGI and practical effects. As the series progresses, battles like Marineford, Dressrosa, and Wano will demand a significantly higher budget than the early arcs. Netflix must be willing to continuously increase production value, ensuring that future seasons do not suffer from diminishing quality due to budget constraints.

Another concern is audience retention. One Piece is a long-term commitment, and while season one performed well, future seasons must maintain strong viewership numbers to justify continued investment. If viewership drops, Netflix may be forced to condense the story more aggressively or even cancel the series before it reaches its conclusion.

Custom image of live-action Nami and Zoro in One Piece

Netflix has the potential to adapt One Piecein its entirety, but doing so will take a lot of dedication, planning, and financial backing. With a minimum of 15 seasons required to cover the full story at a reasonable pace, the project would span over a decade, making it one of the most ambitious live-action adaptations in television history.

The key to success lies in maintaining a steady release schedule, securing long-term contracts for the cast, and ensuring consistent production quality. If Netflix commits to these factors and continues to support the show with proper funding and resources, it is possible for the live-action One Piece to sail through to its grand finale. However, any missteps along the way, whether in pacing, budgeting, or audience engagement, could jeopardize the entire show. Only time will tell if Netflix is truly ready to embark on this decade-long journey, but for now, fans can remain hopeful that the adventure is just beginning.