A week later, Netflix subscribers will be able to discover the live-action adaptation of One Piece, the world’s best-selling manga, on their screens. It is not enough to say whether the platform is expected with this particularly expensive production. But if there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on so far, it’s the casting. In the front line is the young Inaki Godoi, who interprets the hero Luffy.
Eiichiro Oda, the mangaka behind One Piece, came from different cultures and irrigated his world. Thus, its main characters are representatives of different nationalities. In his previous interviews, the Japanese author specifically revealed that if Luffy really existed, he would be Brazilian. This is not the case for the actor Iñaki Godoy, who is Mexican (the two countries are not too far apart), but shares other points in common with the resilient hero: a smile and a good sense of humor.
“In Mexican culture we love to party and take care of our family. This is something that has influenced me throughout my life and influenced my interpretation of the character– he told us last June during the TUDUM event in Brazil.
From his age of 19 (Luffy’s age at the beginning of the manga) during filming, the young boy devoured the first volumes of One Piece after being chosen. But when he auditions for Netflix, he doesn’t know because he’s trying out for the role of Luffy:
“The project had a code, so I didn’t know what series it was. I only had a description of the character: a happy boy, always smiling, positive and a born leader. My mother read it and said, “Inaki, you. are going to play this role. This is exactly you when you were 11!”. The magic seemed to work. On the set, the actor admits that he kept an 11-year-old photo in his pocket to “Remember how I was when I thought anything was possible.”
Her exuberant energy (as evidenced in the video above), her positive attitude and smile also charmed Eiichiro Oda, who had the chance to meet her before filming. In this open letter, the mangaka said that he was very happy with the casting and that certain lines would not have worked without Inaki’s successful interpretation.
In order to prepare as well as possible, the young actor embarked on an unprecedented adventure in February: a two-month boat trip around the Caribbean to put himself in the shoes of a sailor. He especially learned how to navigate like Nami, cook like Sanji, and be a team member…have fun like Luffy.
The latter will now have to convince Netflix subscribers to watch the live-action adaptation of One Piece on August 31st.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
