Exclusive: Showrunner Confirms Casting Talks for One Piece Season 2 with Jamie Lee Curtis

Summary

One Piece showrunner Matt Owens wants Jamie Lee Curtis to portray Kureha in season 2 of the series.

Curtis has shown a keen interest in being part of the show, even sharing fan artwork portraying herself as the doctor.

The potential addition of Curtis to the cast suggests that season 2 might explore the Drum Island Arc and potentially extend its adaptation of the manga.

One Piece showrunner, Matt Owens, provided a positive update on Jamie Lee Curtis' potential role as Kureha in season 2. Kureha, a reclusive doctor, first appears in the Drum Island Arc of the manga and aids the Straw Hats in helping Nami who is ill. Curtis, a fan of the franchise, has expressed her desire to participate in the live-action adaptation and plans to campaign for the role once the Hollywood actors strike concludes. Owens shared with Deadline that the team behind One Piece season 2 intends for Curtis to portray Kureha. While negotiations are currently hindered by the strike, there are plans in place to discuss Curtis's involvement in the show.

We have the opportunity to cast some roles with notable actors, and it turns out that Jamie Lee Curtis is a fan of One Piece. Once we discovered this, we knew we had to try and get her on the show. So, we started brainstorming ideas. Luckily, the character of Doctor Kureha is soon to appear in our story and is a perfect fit for Jamie Lee Curtis.

We began working towards making this dream a reality. After she won her Oscar, the writers room sent her a Doctor Kureha figure along with a heartfelt note. The note expressed congratulations on her achievement and included the gesture of another figurine to accompany her statue. We expressed our hopes of speaking to her soon.

Why Jamie Lee Curtis Would Be The Perfect Kureha

In late September, Curtis made an announcement expressing her desire to portray the character of Kureha. She shared fan art depicting herself as the doctor in her iconic attire. Given the mutual interest expressed by both Curtis and Owens, it would not come as a surprise if she is cast soon after the conclusion of the actors' strike. Such a casting decision would not only depict the progress of the Straw Hats' journey in season 2 of One Piece but also ensure a suitable actor for the role of Kureha.

In addition to rescuing Nami, Kureha also introduces the crew to Chopper, a mysterious reindeer with the ability to transform into different forms after consuming a Devil Fruit. Similar to Kureha, Chopper is skilled in medicine, which leads Luffy to invite him to join the Straw Hats as their doctor. As a result, Kureha plays a significant role in the story beyond her initial purpose, making Curtis the ideal choice for the role due to his acclaimed acting skills.

The news of Curtis potentially joining the One Piece live-action cast in season 2 indicates that the upcoming season will cover at least the Drum Island Arc of the Arabasta Saga. However, since the season is expected to primarily focus on the Straw Hats' journey to Arabasta as portrayed in the manga, it is plausible that the show may also venture beyond Drum Island. Regardless of how much material from the manga the next season encompasses, it seems that Curtis will be involved in bringing it to life on screen.

Source: Deadline