After finishing the first season on Netflix, we can say it: the cast of the “One Piece” Straw Hat gang is pretty awesome. Aside from a few minor visual foibles, why does Usopp actor Jacob Romero have the smallest snub nose imaginable? – all figures are well made in appearance and especially in character. This is also the merit of an extensive casting process to be able to fulfill each role truly appropriately.
But it wasn’t that easy. This was of course not least due to the high expectations of the fans. With such a long-running series with well-known characters, there are a lot of things to consider that go into the casting decision. One character caused particular problems for those responsible: Straw Hat Captain Monkey D. Luffy!
Luffy carries the series
In an interview with “One Piece” director Marc Jobst, who was also involved in the casting process of the series, explained why it was so difficult to find a suitable actor for the role:
In the series, the daring pirate newcomer is played by Iñaki Godoy, who has some of the characteristics that would characterize Luffy in the manga or anime. This is what the actor naturally possesses , the director emphasizes in the interview. And so after the audition they quickly knew they had found the right actor for the character: