Tomorrow Studios is developing a live-action version of the cult anime Samurai Champloo, and original series creator Shinichiro Watanabe is also attached to the project, the studio’s executive producer has exclusively told us.
The film adaptation will be the next big move for producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements, who have made Tomorrow Studios a leading destination for anime-to-live-action films thanks to Netflix’s hit “One Piece.” The news comes as “One Piece” season 2 premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, with the first two episodes set to receive special theatrical screenings in about 200 theaters in the U.S., Canada and Japan starting March 10.
“I had dinner with[Watanabe]in Japan and told him that if we were to move forward with the production of ‘Samurai Champloo,’ I would love for him to be a creative part,” Clements told Variety. “We were thrilled that he was willing to do that.”
The project is in early development and Tomorrow Studios has not yet released it to the network, but Clements said the studio is “getting a lot of calls” about the property. This adaptation updates the material for modern television audiences while maintaining the core elements that fans love. Clements said music will be central to the process, noting that the original anime’s hip-hop-infused score was a defining feature, and that the studio plans to bring in key recording artists early to establish the show’s sound.
The production company previously made an anime version of Watanabe’s other masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop, for Netflix in 2021, but the series was canceled after one season. Clements acknowledged that Watanabe had little creative involvement in the project.
“We learned,” Adelstein said. “It’s really important for creators to be there and celebrate creativity.”
This lesson is central to the success of “One Piece,” with manga author Eiichiro Oda serving as an active producer at every stage of production, from scripting and casting to editing and VFX reviews. When Season 1 was released in 2023, Oda wrote letters to fans expressing his emotional reaction to seeing his work come to life on screen, which Clements believes helped win over fans who were skeptical of the original.
“When he says, ‘I was in it too, and it’s real,’ it certainly helps,” Clements said.
That goodwill paid off. Season 1 spent eight weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10, reaching number one in over 75 countries and making history as the first English-language Netflix series to debut at number one in Japan. It has been viewed over 100 million times and ranks as one of the most downloaded series in Netflix history. A second season seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Emily Ladd as Nami, Inaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, and Jacob Romero as Usopp.
Provided by Netflix
Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, with Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates entering the dangerous Grand Line. Clements described the scale as “relentless” from the opening scene, with a staff of around 1,500 people working from production design, stunts, visual effects, practical effects, hair, makeup and costumes all working to bring Oda’s world to the screen.
The new season will feature a number of new additions to the cast, including Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Joe Manganiello as the villain Mr. 0, Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Sophia Ann Caruso as Miss Golden Week, and Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5. This season’s filming locations include Loguetown, Rivers Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island.
Jasara Jaslin (left) as Miss Valentine, Lela Abova as Miss All Sunday, and Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5.
Casey Crafford/Netflix
Perhaps the most anticipated addition is fan-favorite reindeer doctor Tony Tony Chopper. It was brought to life through a combination of prosthetics, VFX, and performance capture by actress Michaela Huber, whose facial expressions were recorded and mapped onto a digital character.
“Chopper is very popular, so we paid close attention to every part,” Clements said, noting that Oda emphasized the Japanese concept of “kawaii,” or a certain type of fun and endearing quality, as the emotional target the character needed to attack. “Our VFX team’s desire is for the helicopter to impress. Just watch the season.”
Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece Season 2.
Provided by Netflix
Season 3 is currently in production. Clements acknowledged that he had been reviewing the daily newspaper the morning of the interview, and would not say anything other than to say that the show continues to amaze even his own producers.
“Even you will be surprised every day by what you are going to see,” she said. “It’s always a new idea.”
Beyond One Piece, Tomorrow Studios is in the midst of a broader expansion. The studio ended 2024 with a series order for “So Far Gone” at Netflix, as well as “Reversal of Fortune” with writer Jack Thorne and “Funny You Should Ask” starring Regé-Jean Page at Apple. In addition to the announcement for TV+, the company also announced a TV adaptation of Ace Atkins’ New York Times bestseller “Don’t Ridden the Devil,” written by “Luke Cage” showrunner Cho Hodari Coker. Adelstein and Clements said the studio plans to begin production on these projects in late 2026.
The studio also won ratings for ABC’s “Shifting Gears.” Previous credits include Prime Video’s “The Better Sister,” TNT/AMC+’s “Snowpiercer” and Apple TV+’s “Physical.” Tomorrow Studios is a partnership between Adelstein and ITV Studios, with Adelstein serving as founder and CEO and Clements serving as partner and president.
“One Piece” Season 2 is now available on Netflix.
