The live-action series “One Piece” is taking on a difficult legacy. Netflix is not necessarily known for producing good live-action adaptations. But with Jamie Lee Curtis at its side, the series could work very well.
- The successful manga series by mangaka Eiichirō Oda is to get a live-action live-action adaptation at Netflix.
- However, these don’t always have it easy, because a lot of things can be done wrong.
- On the other hand, it would be anything but a mistake to have anime fan Jamie Lee Curtis play the role of Dr. Kureha.
She may not be the face that everyone expects, but the live-action series “One Piece” desperately needs the support of Jamie Lee Curtis. Only she can give character to a certain character in the Netflix series.
The debut season to the world-famous manga series “One Piece” is taking on a tough legacy at Netflix. Live-action adaptations of the streaming service have so far been received with little enthusiasm by the public. Fans will certainly remember Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Death Note” with horror.
“One Piece” aims to do better. For that to succeed, the support of Jamie Lee Curtis would be needed. The self-confessed anime and “One Piece” fan already indicated at the 2022 Oscars that she would be interested in participating in Netflix’s latest anime project. She named Chopper’s mentor Dr. Kureha as the role.
Jamie Lee Curtis the perfect Dr. Kureha
“Hard shell, soft core” is exactly how the often gruff-looking doctor Dr. Kureha from the manga series “One Piece” could best be described. The roles Jamie Lee Curtis has taken on in her acting career so far have been similar. The perfect example of this is Curtis’ latest role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Here, too, she effortlessly shifts from aggressive and unsympathetic to warm and approachable.
However, we would have to wait a bit longer for Curtis’ appearance as Dr. Kureha. In the first season of the live-action adaptation, Monkey D. Ruffy (Iñaki Godoy) will first meet Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Lysop (Jacob Romero Gibson) and Sanji (Taz Skylar). The next recruit will be Chopper, whom the Straw Hat Gang meets on Drum Island.
It’s not entirely clear how far the plot will go in Season 1. However, it is safe to assume that Chopper’s appearance will only be hinted at, if at all. It’s much more likely that we won’t get to see Chopper, and thus his mentor Dr. Kureha, until the start of Season 2.
Until then, Netflix should definitely take a look at the schedule of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, because she would be a very good means to bring “One Piece” to success. The live-action adaptation has to walk a fine line between appeasing a passionate fan base and attracting a mainstream Netflix audience. Casting Curtis would help on both counts.
As a fan of “One Piece,” the actress would offer the series a guarantee that mangaka Eiichirō Oda’s original material would be handled well. After all, it’s also in her own interest that the story of Ruffy and his friends is told in the right way.
For outsiders, on the other hand, Curtis’ involvement in the Netflix series would be an incentive to even take a peek at the story. So far, “One Piece” features a capable but not overly familiar cast. With Jamie Lee Curtis, Hollywood would be brought into the house. A well-known leading actor or guest star has already brought enormous success to many a series.
The only obstacle to not letting Curtis take part in “One Piece” is apparently only the planning. Fortunately for Netflix, Dr. Kureha plays a central role, but only a brief one.
The second season of “One Piece” will not be set in the Kingdom of Drum the entire time. That means Curtis could get a guest role, which should still fit nicely into a busy movie star calendar. Netflix would be remiss if they didn’t take advantage of this opportunity.