One Pieceseason 2’s live-action casting choice for Nico Robin has been announced, paying off a 15-year-old Eiichiro Oda comment about the character.One Pieceseason 1 endedwith Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) officially forming his crew with the Straw Hat Pirates, including sword master Zoro (Mackenyu), navigator Nami (Emily Rudd), marksman Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), and chef Sanji (Taz Skylar). It’s been confirmed thatOne Pieceseason 2will be finishing the manga’s first Saga with the Loguetown Arc, before moving on to the first parts of the Arabasta Saga.
During this portion of the story, the Straw Hats come across a mysterious woman who goes by the name Miss All Sunday. A member of the criminal organization Baroque Works, her real name is Nico Robin, a prominent character in the series who winds up having an important connection to Luffy’s group. Recently, it was revealedthecast ofOne Pieceseason 2would include Robin, who will be portrayed by Lera Abova. Interestingly, her casting choice fulfills a 15-year-old comment from Oda, the series' creator, about the character.
This Nico Robin Theory Solves All My Problems With Netflix’s One Piece Season 2
A clever Nico Robin theory explains how One Piece season 2 will use “Miss All Sunday,” and it solves my problems with the show’s Arabasta decision.
Eiichiro Oda Once Said Nico Robin Would Be Russian In The Real World
Abova Herself Is A Russian Actor
In the SBS column ofOne PieceVolume 56 (viaSoraNews24) in 2009, Oda revealed the real-world nationalities corresponding to major characters in the manga. In terms of the crew members introduced in the live-action series so far, he describes Luffy as Brazilian, Zoro as Japanese, Nami as Swedish, Usopp as African, and Sanji as French.He also notes that Robin is Russian in his eyes, making Abova the perfect casting choice because of her own background as a Russian actress and model.
In terms of other cast members also introduced in the manga, Oda sees Chopper as Canadian, Franky as American, and Brook as Austrian.
WhileOne Pieceseason 2’s anime momentsare likely going to be just as accurate as they were in season 1,this casting decision shows a further commitment to Oda’s vision for a live-action rendition. While Abova was cast because of her talent to bring Robin to life, her being a Russian actor also helps bolster the vision of the character. It makes her accurate to how the author would want her portrayed, giving her a strong presence when she finally arrives.
One Piece’s Live-Action Nico Robin Continues The Show’s Perfect Casting Choices
Some Casting Choices Align With Oda’s View Of The Characters
Showrunner Matt Owens has also claimed Abova will be doing something unique with her portrayal, indicating her performance was the deciding factor over her nationality aligning with Oda’s vision.
While it wouldn’t be sensible for every character in the live-action show to follow the exact nationalities Oda sees them as, the series has done a good job at casting actors who perfectly capture the essence of the charatcers.While Godoy is not Brazilian, the actor is Latino, even joking that he wanted Brazilians to accept him in the role regardless. Similarly, Gibson, who plays Usopp, is Black, although he is a Jamaican-American actor instead of African like his manga counterpart. The most accurate casting choice to the author’s vision is Mackenyu as Zoro, who is Japanese, much like the character he portrays.
However, more importantly than their nationalities,all the actors for the show have captured the essences of their respective characters with stunning accuracy.Showrunner Matt Owens has also claimed Abova will be doing something unique with her portrayal when Robin is Miss All Sunday, indicating her performance was the deciding factor over her nationality aligning with Oda’s vision. This indicatesOne Pieceseason 2’s arcsare going to be accurately translated onscreen thanks to talented performances, with Abova adding plenty with her portrayal of the Baroque Works member.
What To Expect From Miss All Sunday In One Piece Season 2
Her Presence In Season 2 Will Be Shrouded In Mystery
When she’s first introduced, Nico Robin is known as Miss All Sunday, the partner of Baroque Works' leader, Mr. 0 (later known as Crocodile).She has the power of the Hana-Hana Fruit, a Devil Fruit that allows her to replicate parts of her body, such as her arms, on any surface, including living things. When she first appears, she seems benevolent toward the Straw Hats, despite her high position in the criminal organization. It’s later revealed she is seeking an ancient text, or Ponyglyph, that tells the true history of the world.
SinceOne Pieceseason 2 covers important momentsfrom Loguetown through Drum Island, it means Robin isn’t going to appear often, her purpose likely shrouded in mystery throughout the episodes. However, it’s also possible she gets a remixed story, much like Garp and Arlong in season 1, where she pursues the Straw Hats at the behest of her boss. This could result in a more nuanced approach to her character that gives her a new, original storylinethat doesn’t compromise her purpose as established in the manga.
Abova’s casting as Robin aligns with Oda’s vision for the character’s nationality, making her an even more perfect casting choice on top of her ability to portray the Baroque Works member. Since Owens hinted she’ll be putting a unique spin on the character,it seems she’ll be impressing with her performance beyond aligning with the author’s vision of her nationality. This makesOne Pieceseason 2 all the more exciting, as the direction the series heads in will pave the way for even more of Robin in the future.
Nico Robin first has a major role in theOne Piecemanga during the Arabasta Arc, which wouldn’t be able to happen until a potential season 3 of the Netflix show.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
