Creator Eiichiro Oda recently made a rare appearance on the filming set for the third season of the One Piece live-action series. During the visit,the manga's author interacted with actor Inaki Godoy while the production prepares to adapt the Alabasta arc.

A rare break from Oda's grueling weekly schedule

Eiichiro Oda, the legendary creator of the One Piece manga, recently stepped away from his intense writing desk to visit the live-action production set . According to the latest reports, this visit marks a significant departure from Oda's standard routine, where he typically works over 12 hours a day, six days a week to maintain his serialization schedule.

This rare appearance comes at a critical juncture for the franchise. As the One Piece narrative enters its final saga, the pressure to maintain the quality of the weekly manga has only increased. For fans, seeing the author in person—even while partially obscured by a large prop fish to maintain his privacy—serves as a reminder of the massive scale of the world he has built over decades.

Xolo Mariduena and the new faces of Alabasta

The third season of the One Piece live-action series is set to transport viewers to the desert kingdom of Alabasta. The production has already begun announcing a diverse new cast to fill the roles of both allies and antagonists. Most notably, Xolo Mariduena has been cast as Portgas D. Ace, the sworn brother of Monkey D. Luffy.

Other confirmed cast members include:

  • Cole Escola as Bon Clay
  • Awdo Awdo as Mr. 1
  • Daisy Head as Miss Doublefinger

These additions follow the momentum of the previous season's finale, which saw the Straw Hat Pirates welcome Tony Tony Chopper to the crew aboard the Going Merry.

The mystery of Crocodile's casting and the final saga's scale

Despite the flurry of casting news,several key questions remain unanswered for the One Piece fandom. While the report confirms that major antagonists like Crocodile and Miss All Sunday will feature prominently in the Alabasta arc, the actors playing these pivotal roles have yet to be officially named. Furthermore, the production's ability to translate the vast, sweeping desert landscapes of the Alabasta arc into a live-action medium remains to be seen as the series moves toward the conclusion of the overarching story .

Luffy in the sand: Oda’s visual stamp on the desert kingdom

During his time on set, Eiichiro Oda provided a personal touch to the production by drawing the character Luffy in the sand. This interaction occurred while actor Inaki Godoy, who portrays Monkey D. Luffy, was in full costume, bridging the gap between the original manga and the live-action adaptation.

Oda's visit, though brief and private, underscores the deep connection between the source material and the production. By engaging directly with the set and the cast, the creator offers a silent endorsement of the ambitious journey the Straw Hat Pirates are about to undertake in the desert kingdom.