Joe Manganiello teases Crocodile’s arc in One Piece'supcoming season 2, hinting at parallels between him and Luffy. Netflix’s live-action One Piece follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates and their quest to find the "One Piece", a treasure that might make their captain, Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), "The King of the Pirates". Currently, the live-action series holds an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score. One Piece season 2 does not currently have a release date.
During an interview with Screen Rant's Joe Deckelmeier for Deal or No Deal Island,Manganiello spoke about Crocodile’s dynamic with the Straw Hat Pirates. He points out that Crocodile’s past isn’t so different from Luffy’s, with both characters once being ambitious young pirates before taking vastly different paths. Manganiello also shares his excitement about portraying the villain. Check out his comments below:
For people keeping up with the pages as they've been coming out, especially the Marineford arc and beyond, there's a real turn for Crocodile later on. But in the early manga, come on, Crocodile's about as much fun as you can have as a villain.
I use that term liberally because when you really get into his backstory, he's not that much different from Luffy in some ways when they were young pirates. It's just that events happened to Crocodile that put him onto a very different path. When you catch up with him, he's fully formed as an adult, in some ways meeting himself as that young, wistful-eyed pirate that he once was. You're catching up with him at the height of his powers, which is a lot of fun for me.
What This Means For One Piece & Crocodile
Manganiello Is Committed To Portraying Crocodile
Crocodile’s introduction in One Piece season 2 heightens the series’ stakes, as he is one of the first major warlords Luffy encounters. However, Manganiello’s remarks indicate that One Piece season 2 will present Crocodile as more than just an antagonist. In the manga and animated series, Crocodile plays a major role in the Arabasta Saga, leading Baroque Works in an attempt to overthrow the Arabasta kingdom. However, his backstory and later appearances reveal a history that diverged from Luffy’s. Season 2 appears ready to explore his backstory, staying true to One Piece's previous depiction of the character.
With Netflix's One Piece confirmed for more seasons, there are arcs in the series that Netflix might have trouble adapting for various reasons.
Manganiello’s approach to Crocodile suggests his commitment to understanding the character. His familiarity with the manga’s later developments indicates that he recognizes Crocodile as more than Luffy's formidable adversary. Season 2's depiction of Crocodile would not only enhance the ongoing story but also reinforce the One Piece cast's ability to translate its most nuanced characters into live action.
Our Take On Crocodile’s Season 2 Arc In One Piece
Manganiello’s understanding of Crocodile aligns with One Piece’s strength in creating villains with backstory and purpose. Season 2 faces the challenge of portraying him as both a calculating warlord and a character shaped by past failures, rather than reducing him to solely an antagonist. Successfully capturing Crocodile will be essential in maintaining the live-action adaptation of One Piece's credibility.
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