Netflix’s One Piece live-action still feels like the rare anime adaptation that did not get cooked alive by fans on day one. The first season proved that with the right care, casting, and respect for Eiichiro Oda’s world, live-action anime can actually work. Now, as the series grows bigger, the fun question is obvious: who else could join the Grand Line?
Season 2 is already stacking up with recognisable names. The source notes that David Dastmalchian is playing Mr. 3, while Joe Manganiello is stepping in as Crocodile. That alone shows Netflix is not shy about bringing in Hollywood-level talent for major One Piece roles.
But the really spicy part came from the current Straw Hat cast themselves.
At a recent GalaxyCon event, Jacob Gibson, who plays Usopp, shared his dream casting for a future Straw Hat: Dave Bautista as Jimbei. Honestly? That one kind of slaps. Bautista has the size, the presence, and most importantly, he has already shown he can play a big, physically imposing non-human character with heart through Drax in the MCU.
Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, backed that idea — then added her own pick: John Cena as Franky.
That got the crowd going, and Gibson reportedly leaned into the obvious Cena joke about not being able to see him. But meme aside, Cena as Franky is not as random as it sounds. Franky needs someone who can go full ridiculous without looking embarrassed, while still selling the emotional side when the story needs it. Cena has been getting better and better at that kind of comedy-action balance.
For Malaysian and SEA fans, this is exactly the kind of fan-casting conversation that will blow up in anime group chats. One Piece is already one of those series where everyone has a favourite crew member, favourite arc, and very strong opinions about whether live-action should even touch certain characters. Jimbei and Franky are especially tricky because they are larger-than-life personalities. If Netflix gets them wrong, fans will notice immediately.
That is why Bautista and Cena make sense as dream picks. Both are former WWE stars, so they understand big character energy. One Piece is not a quiet, subtle world. It needs actors who can look insane on paper but still feel sincere when the moment hits. Jimbei’s strength and kindness would suit Bautista’s screen presence, while Franky’s chaotic cyborg swagger lines up nicely with Cena’s more comedic side.
There was also one more hilarious name mentioned: Danny DeVito. Rudd shared that Iñaki Godoy and Gibson would apparently love to find some kind of role for him in the show. No specific character was locked in, but the idea of Danny DeVito just existing somewhere in the One Piece universe is already enough to make fans start cooking theories.
To be clear, none of these picks are confirmed casting announcements. They are fan-casting wishes from the actors, not official Netflix news. Still, with the live-action series continuing to expand and Season 2 already pulling in bigger names, it does not feel impossible anymore.
If One Piece live-action keeps landing the right balance between goofy, heartfelt, and weird, these kinds of cast choices could actually work. And bro, if John Cena ever shouts “SUPER!” as Franky on Netflix, the internet might genuinely explode.
Source: ComicBook Anime