By Paul Salfen, Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
Iñaki Godoy (“Monkey D. Luffy”), Mackenyu (“Roronoa Zoro”), Emily Rudd (“Nami”), Jacob Romero (“Usopp”) & Taz Skylar (“Sanji”) talk ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line
As ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line sets sail on Netflix this March 10, 2026, fans are gearing up for the Straw Hat Pirates’ most perilous adventure yet. After a wildly successful first season, the live-action adaptation returns with fiercer foes, bizarre islands, and the legendary Grand Line itself. Creator Eiichiro Oda has praised the cast, and production wrapped with stunning behind-the-scenes moments in South Africa.
In this exclusive conversation captured by AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen, the core Straw Hat crew—Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy), Mackenyu (Roronoa Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp), and Taz Skylar (Sanji)—opens up about the joys of filming Season 2. From birthday fireworks to accidental explosions and breathtaking locations, their camaraderie shines through as they share what makes this journey unforgettable.
The interview kicks off with the cast marveling at their dream gig. “When you’re looking around the set, are you ever just thinking, ‘I get paid for this? Like, I won’?” Salfen asks. The response is immediate and heartfelt.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” they chorus, with one adding, “It’s work too, don’t get me wrong… but sometimes we wake up and go, ‘Oh right, this is really cool.'” Another shares, “There are some moments, especially when we’re all together, where I just get this overwhelming feeling of, ‘Oh my God, this is real.’ I’m with these people that I love so much, doing this incredible show on a real-life pirate ship. Like, what?”
The conversation turns to standout memories from Season 2. Emily Rudd recalls her 21st birthday on set: “After I was done with my scene, everybody was outside saying happy birthday… They had this big birthday cake, and then there were fireworks inside the studio.” She notes it marked not just her milestone but “ten years of being a working actor,” making the fireworks and crew celebration deeply meaningful.
For others, it’s the group dynamic. “The days when we’re all working together… If I’m with these four, I’m going to have a good day,” one says. Jacob Romero highlights a wild moment: “Being inside of a giant whale and interacting with its uvula… I will never forget that.”
Taz Skylar emphasizes the magic of mishaps turning golden. “There was a moment with some explosions… they all blew up at the same time when they weren’t supposed to, and it just made the shot better because nobody would have ever done that on purpose.”
The cast reflects on the nomadic production—shooting in stunning South African locales, from wildflower-filled Whiskey Peak to the remote mountains of Drum Island (after emerging from Laboon the whale). “There’s like a sacredness any time you get to be on any set,” one notes. “The landscape, the backdrop… sunrise to catch or a sunset to watch.” They recall wild horses grazing near sets and the fleeting nature of builds that vanish after one day of filming.
Even fun facts emerge, like one cast member voicing a character in the animated One Piece, delighting kids at school.
Salfen asks for advice to aspiring young actors inspired by the crew. The responses are inspiring:
- “The only things in the world that limit us… is ourselves. Anything is possible if you set your mind and heart to it. Don’t look at things as a pipe dream. Just chase after it.”
- “Have fun… Even if things don’t go your way, if you enjoyed it, it’s good. Enjoy the journey.”
- “The importance of being yourself… loving yourself, learning yourself, trusting yourself… and find people to support you. Found family.”
- “Have such conviction… that there’s no doubt in your mind… Don’t let anyone stop you from doing what you love the most.”
The interview wraps with gratitude and excitement: “Thank you all so much… And hey, it’s pirate time!”
With new additions like Tony Tony Chopper (Mikaela Hoover), Dr. Kureha (Katey Sagal), Crocus (Clive Russell), and formidable foes including Mr. 3 (David Dastmalchian) and Mr. 0 (Joe Manganiello), Season 2 promises epic stakes. As the Straw Hats chase the One Piece through unpredictable seas, their real-life bond mirrors the found family on screen.
Catch ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line streaming March 10, 2026, on Netflix—yo ho ho, the adventure awaits!
