Landing the Ultimate Role: One Piece Season 2's Dream Casting Sparks Excitement Among Fans

Summary

Matt Owens, the co-showrunner and executive producer of Netflix's One Piece, is excited about Jamie Lee Curtis' interest in portraying Doctor Kureha.

Curtis took the lead in the fan campaign to portray Kureha, expressing her interest in the role even before the show was aired.

Owens shared his fan art depicting Curtis as Kureha and mentioned that the show is open to discussing the opportunity with her after the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Netflix's One Piece showrunner and executive producer, Matt Owens, has responded positively to Jamie Lee Curtis' expressed interest in playing the role of Doctor Kureha. With the recent renewal of One Piece for season 2, numerous opportunities for new characters and casting choices have arisen. Fans of the show have already begun suggesting their ideas for characters that could potentially appear in the upcoming season. However, Jamie Lee Curtis' fan casting as Kureha has gained the most attention and support. In response to the fan campaign, Curtis took to Instagram and stated her desire to star in One Piece season 2, but mentioned that she would wait until the SAG-AFTRA strike had concluded before pursuing the role of Doctor Kureha.

Owens later commented on the post, expressing his enthusiasm for her interest in the show. He even disclosed that he had sent her a fan art envisioning her as Kureha. Moreover, he revealed that Curtis won't have to actively campaign for the role as the show is already eager to initiate discussions with her once the labor disputes are resolved and the entertainment industry resumes its operations.

Jamie Lee Curtis' One Piece Fan Casting As Kureha Explained

Now that Owens and Curtis have both expressed interest in having her portray Kureha, things are falling into place. Some may be curious about how this came about. Surprisingly, it was Curtis herself who initiated the campaign, expressing her desire to play Doctor Kureha well before the show premiered. She believed she was too old to play Nico Robin. After the show's season 2 renewal, the fan campaign for Curtis' casting as Kureha in One Piece gained momentum, especially with the confirmation of Tony Tony Chopper's presence.

In One Piece, Kureha serves as Chopper's adoptive mother and his mentor in medicine. Therefore, if Chopper is joining the crew in season 2, it would be fitting for Kureha to make her appearance as well. Additionally, Curtis' talent and her inclination towards eccentric roles make her the ideal choice for fans who envision her as Kureha, an elderly doctor with a youthful spirit and a unique approach to patient care.

With both Curtis and her fans eagerly supporting her involvement in the Netflix adaptation, the only thing missing was the approval of One Piece's crew. Now that Owens has shown equal enthusiasm in response, the only hurdle standing in the way of Curtis being cast as Kureha in One Piece is the ongoing strikes by SAG-AFTRA and WGA. These unions have been on strike for several months, advocating for improved wages, job security, and protections against AI. If the AMPTP grants the workers their rightful demands, the dream of Curtis portraying Kureha in One Piece might soon become a reality.