Matt Owens departs Netflix's "One Piece" after Season 2, sparking speculation about the show's future

Matt Owens, one of the main creative minds behind Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece, has announced that he is stepping down from his role. He shared the news on Friday, explaining that he wants to take a break and focus on his mental health.

In a heartfelt statement posted on Instagram, Owens reflected on his journey with the show.

“The last six years working on the live-action One Piece have been a life-changing journey. A dream come true,” he wrote. “It’s also been A LOT. So I’m stepping off the Going Merry to take a break and focus on myself and my mental health.”

Netflix’s official One Piece Instagram account reposted his message, adding,

“You set us on a course for something truly special.”

What’s Next for One Piece Without Owens?

Before joining One Piece, Owens worked as a writer on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) and Luke Cage (Netflix). He played a major role in bringing One Piece to life, working closely with creator Eiichiro Oda, fellow showrunner Joe Tracz, and executive producers like Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements.

With Owens stepping away, Joe Tracz will take over as the sole showrunner for Season 2. Tracz has been involved in the show’s development and will oversee post-production to ensure a smooth transition. However, Netflix has yet to announce when the new season will be released.

The series is based on Eiichiro Oda’s long-running manga, Netflix’s live-action One Piece debuted in 2023 and was met with positive reviews from critics and enthusiastic praise from fans.

The series follows Monkey D. Luffy, played by Inaki Godoy, a young pirate with extraordinary abilities granted by a Devil Fruit. His ultimate dream? To become the King of the Pirates.

In Season 1, Luffy sets sail with his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, which includes:

• Emily Rudd as Nami
• Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro
• Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp
• Taz Skylar as Sanji

Season 2 of One Piece is set to introduce even more beloved characters from the original story. Several new actors have been confirmed for key roles, including:

• Joe Manganiello as Crocodile (Mr. O)
• Lera Abova as Nico Robin (Miss All Sunday)
• Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra
• Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday
• Sophia Anne Caruso as Miss Goldenweek
• Anton David Jeftha as K.M.
• Mark Penwill as Chess
• Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha

With such a strong lineup of new and returning actors, Season 2 is shaping up to be even more exciting than the first!

Owens’ departure has sparked speculation among fans about how the show will evolve moving forward. Will Season 2 maintain the same vision and energy without one of its key creators? Only time will tell.

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