The fan-favorite One Piece Film: Z is coming to Netflix.
As reported by Anime News Network, the streaming service confirmed that the action-packed 2012 movie will be available on its platform on April 12. The movie is the 12th theatrical release in the long-running franchise, and tells the story of the Straw Hat Pirates' conflict with the former Marine admiral Z, who steals a powerful weapon and threatens the safety of the entire New World. The movie was directed by Tatsuya Nagamine, who would later go on to direct Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Production on the film was directly overseen by series creator Eiichiro Oda.
Netflix has been adding more One Piece content to its platform in recent months as it gears up for the release of its upcoming live-action reboot of the series. In February, the service added the compilation movies Episode of Arabasta and Episode of Chopper: Bloom in Winter, Miracle Sakura to its library.
Filming began on Netflix's reboot in early February. The new show will star Iñaki Godoy (Go, Youth!) as the gummy hero Monkey D. Luffy, Taz Skylar (Boiling Point) as the fighting chef Sanji, Mackenyu (Chihayafuru) as the swordsman Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd (Fear Street) as the navigator Nami and Jacob Romero Gibson (Greenleaf) as the sniper Usopp. The series is being produced by Tomorrow Pictures, who previously worked with Netflix on the live-action Cowboy Bebop series, which premiered in 2021 to mixed reviews and a swift cancellation. Longtime fans of the series can put some of their worries to rest however, as Oda is also working on the series as its executive producer.
The next animated movie in the series, One Piece Film: Red, is also apparently sailing smoothly through production, as its producers recently revealed the new, extra-piratey costumes that Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat crew will wear during the film.
The same cannot be said for the One Piece TV anime, which was recently placed on an indefinite hiatus following a hacking incident at production company Toei Animation. The prolific animation company was the victim of an unauthorized intrusion into its private networks on March 6. The hack caused a shutdown of the comnpany's network and reportedly resulted in the loss of files related to the production of several of its most popular properties. In addition to One Piece, Digimon: Ghost Game was also place on hiatus, and the release of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie was postponed, with no new premiere date given.
Source: Anime News Network
