‘He Is The Flip Side Of The Coin From Luffy’: One Piece’s Joe Manganiello Explains Why Crocodile Is Such A Compelling Villain Following Season 2 Casting

As a long-time One Piece enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over manga volumes and binge-watching episodes, I am thrilled about the latest casting news for the live-action adaptation. Joe Manganiello‘s insights into Crocodile’s character, particularly his portrayal as a foil for Monkey D. Luffy, has me buzzing with anticipation.

Last week turned out to be an exciting one for One Piece enthusiasts, especially those who follow the live-action adaptation available on Netflix. Not only did we get a sneak peek at Chopper in the filming of Season 2, but it was also officially announced that Joe Manganiello and Lera Anova will portray Mr. 0 (aka Crocodile) and Miss All Sunday (aka Nico Robin) respectively. With this recent casting update, Manganiello has voiced his thoughts on what makes Crocodile such an intriguing villain, particularly in contrast to Monkey D. Luffy.

During Netflix’s Geeked Week 2024, Joe Manganiello and Lera Abova had a meeting with One Piece series showrunner Matt Owens. At this gathering, they talked about joining the show. When asked about their preparation for their roles, Manganiello mentioned that he has numerous variants of Crocodile to study as he delves into the material. However, what truly matters to him when portraying a character like Crocodile is making him seem authentic, which involves comprehending his “distinct motivations” and “unique journey,” different from some other characters. Manganiello then expressed:

However, it appears that this character could be a reflection of Luffy’s darker side, given the chance. He embodies the ominous possibility that Luffy might succumb to despair or be influenced by defeat in the same way I was, and I suspect that within Crocodile lies an inclination towards inflicting suffering on others, much like he experienced after Whitebeard, or from the sorrow of not achieving his goal to become Pirate King and letting it go. Naturally, there’s also a lack of trust in friends, a trait that is evident in him.

In the world of One Piece, Crocodile, the head of the Baroque Works syndicate who consumed the Sand-Sand Fruit and was once among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, presented a formidable challenge for Luffy early on in the series. As Joe Manganiello pointed out, Crocodile shares a contentious past with the powerful pirate Whitebeard, a detail further developed during the Impel Down and Marineford story arcs. Despite being clearly antagonistic, Manganiello’s portrayal of Crocodile brings depth to the character by emphasizing his unique traits.

Since Season 2 of One Piece won’t delve into the Alabasta arc, a fight between Joe Manganiello’s Crocodile and Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy might not occur, unless the live-action adaptation introduces an additional battle. However, Manganiello’s comments have me optimistic that the upcoming episodes will offer insight into Crocodile’s character, with a deeper exploration likely to happen in Season 3 (if it gets approved). Similarly, I hope, along with my colleague Mick Joest, for scenes featuring Joe Manganiello’s Crocodile and Jeff Ward’s Buggy the Clown in Season 2, even though they didn’t interact until later in the One Piece manga and anime.

In addition to David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra, Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, and Callum Kerr as Smoker, the upcoming season 2 of One Piece will also feature a number of other new characters. Unfortunately, a release date for the next season has not been announced yet, but it’s expected to air sometime in 2025. To pass the time, you can check out some top-rated shows currently available on Netflix.

2024-09-25 15:37

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