Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy is set to portray one of the most iconic characters ever adapted into live-action: the beloved Monkey D. Luffy in Netflix’s live-action series of One Piece.
Since the announcement of this casting, there has been considerable skepticism surrounding Godoy’s ability to embody the character. The challenge lies in capturing the spirit of the source material, as many adaptations of beloved anime and manga have struggled to find success.
In a recent interview, Godoy opened up about the challenges he faces in bringing Luffy—this symbolically rich character—into real life. He emphasized that the greatest challenge is balancing the two aspects of the character: the goofy pirate persona and the serious hero’s journey. Maintaining this balance is crucial, especially when it comes to portraying Luffy’s unique abilities, particularly his stretching powers, in a believable way.
Godoy has utilized various reference materials to accurately recreate Luffy’s unique mannerisms, particularly how he uses his stretchy limbs. The 2003-born actor has undoubtedly considered numerous details to ensure the character is authentically represented in this new format.
Godoy shared his approach to bringing Luffy to life on screen:
“In certain situations, I have referenced the anime and manga. I have genuinely tried to recreate how this character (Luffy) fights. I can see him fighting in a certain way. When he throws a punch and pulls back, he often puts his hand on his hip or shoulder. Therefore, if he does it that way, I should also do it that way, right? And when he prepares to throw a punch, sometimes he raises his foot. I just have to look for those small details from the source material.”
Of course, the recent TUDUM reveal was just a brief introduction to the upcoming One Piece live-action series, and we still have some time before we can fully grasp what will unfold. We will focus on enhancing Luffy’s vibrant personality as it is depicted in the show.
