Netflix's live-action adaptation of "One Piece" is doing quite well, so much so that the second season has already received the green light for a second season. We will likely see Chopper's arrival in Season 2, along with Dr. Kureha who fans think should be played by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Jamie Lee Curtis in 'One Piece'
When looking at animated characters, people sometimes already have actors in mind who resemble them or could play the role well. In Dr. Kureha's case, people think that Academy Award-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis fits the portrayal.
It could happen, not just because season two has already been confirmed. Curtis is no stranger to live adaptations as she is already part of the upcoming "Borderlands" movie based on the hit game. It also bodes well that the actress is known and proud to be a nerd for such things.
The actress has seen the posts about fans wanting her to take on the role, and it seems that she's more than happy to do it. She stated in an Instagram post that once the strike ends, she will "lobby along with the growing fan frenzy to become Doctor Kureha."
In an amazing series of events, the post caught the attention of co-showrunner Matt Owens. He replied to the posts saying that there's no need to lobby. Owens said: "Once we get what we deserve and get back to work, let's talk!"
Based on Curtis' acting range, appearance, and age, she would do well as Dr. Kureha. The character lives in Drum Island and is also the way the Straw Hat Pirates meet one of its main characters, Tony Tony Chopper, as the doctor is his adoptive mother, as per Gizmodo.
The beloved reindeer-human hybrid is already set to appear in the second season, so we can expect that the appearance will also bring us Dr. Kureha. Fans have already made depictions of the character for the live-action, some of which look like Pikachu from the live-action movie.
When Will Season Two Be Released?
Just as Jamie Lee Curtis is waiting for the strike to end with a fair contract, the showrunners of "One Piece" are too. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike might be ending soon, but until then, we have nothing else to do but wait.
On the bright side, the renewal is already official, and Eiichiro Oda himself announced it. The manga creator said through a transponder snail that he was people have been enjoying the show, and it "makes the hard work from the production truly worth it."
With the unpredictable outcome of the strike, we can't really know for sure when the production will begin, but as reported by Screen Rant, the estimated release would be around late 2024, or even stretch through mid-2025.
Tomorrow Studios, which is behind the live adaptation, says that development may have already started, according to its President Becky Clements, and CEO Marty Adelstein. They say that the scripts are already ready, but the finalization will rely on the fair conclusion of the strike.
