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Netflix’s upcoming season of the One Piece live-action series has finally revealed Dr. Kureha’s actor—and it’s not the hallowed scream queen (and noted One Piece superfan) Jamie Lee Curtis.
Earlier today, the official One Piece X/Twitter account announced that actor Katey Sagal—known for her role as Leela in Futurama—will join the Netflix cast as the no-nonsense Dr. Kurea. Coupled with Sagal’s casting was the reveal that actor Mark Harelik will play Chopper’s mentor and fellow medic, Dr. Hiriluk.
From the Great Medical Land of Drum, we bring you two legends in medicine! 💉🏴☠️ Our adventure just got a whole lot healthier! #OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/HmwjDjX2EB
— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) August 21, 2024
Sagal’s casting as Kureha comes after months of rumors that Curtis would join One Piece as the seasoned doctor. In the lead-up to One Piece season two, Curtis even posted a Photoshopped image of herself as Kureha asking Netflix when they would ring her line on social media. In December, showrunner Matt Owens all but confirmed Curtis’ casting in a Deadline interview, noting “we really, really want her.”
But in a subsequent Deadline interview, Tomorrow Studios president Becky Clements revealed they had to go in a different direction due to scheduling conflicts.
“She loves the show. She has too many films and TV shows that she’s going into production on so our production dates aren’t going to work,” Clements told Deadline. “She definitely wanted to do it but she’s got deals in first position, and it just became complicated.” Toward the latter half of that interview Clements teased Kureha’s new casting, saying the show had “found an amazing person” for its Kureha.
News Coo just delivered something special from Oda-Sensei and it’s filled with excitement and anticipation for Season 2! 🗞️😆 Big reveals are on the horizon, Straw Hats. Brace yourselves for the journey ahead! 🌊🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/NcywD1sMI3
— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) August 20, 2024
In other related One Piece news, creator Eiichiro Oda shared a lengthy production update on the show. Key among his musings was the confirmation that the show’s second season would pick up from the events of the first season and the smaller arcs that accompany them but would not include the series’ next major arc, Alabasta. This omission suggests that, unlike the first season’s breezy retelling of the anime’s major story arcs, the second season will take its time setting sail in One Piece‘s sub-arcs. That said, Oda reassured long-time fans that Netflix and Tomorrow Studios must get his A-OK on every nook and cranny of the series.
You can stream season one of One Piece on Netflix now.
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