It has now officially proven that Iñaki Godoy isn’t just playing Luffy in One Piece live-action, he’s embodying him in every sense of the word!

SUMMARY

Netflix recently released a short interview featuring Iñaki Godoy and Eiichiro Oda.
Godoy held conversation with Oda in full Japanese; which he had been devoted to learning.
Although the interview may be scripted, his pronunciation and flow of the language shows how much he has improved.

Playing Monkey D. Luffy of One Piece is for sure, no walk in the park. However, for Iñaki Godoy, the star of Netflix’s One Piece live-action, the journey to becoming Luffy isn’t just about pulling off those crazy fight scenes, in fact, Godoy went the extra mile: he actually learned Japanese, so he could chat directly with the big boss Eiichiro Oda himself, without needing a middleman.

And the hard work did pay off. In a heartwarming and totally impressive interview released on Netflix’s YouTube channel, Iñaki Godoy showed off his Japanese skills while grilling Oda about the wild ride that is Season 2. From discussing giant threats on the Grand Line to cracking jokes that made Oda laugh, Godoy proved he’s not just playing Luffy, he’s living him.

Eiichiro Oda’s set visit and the fascinating encounter with Iñaki Godoy

As the One Piece live-action season 2 is on the horizon, Netflix recently released Iñaki Godoy‘s video interview with Eiichiro Oda. Although Oda’s face was hidden, his enthusiasm for the live-action was clearly felt through this interview. He shared that he was totally impressed with Godoy’s acting in the live-action.

However, what really got fans hyped was their discussion about Season 2. Godoy, ever the curious Luffy, asked in Japanese: “Season 1 was very challenging. But this time, going to the Grand Line, everything is huge and crazy. Why make the Grand Line so challenging?….. It’s tough, I’m very tired!”.

Iñaki Godoy in One Piece live-action season 1 | Credit: Tomorrow Studio

In response, we got to hear Oda’s classic answer, “In that universe, the Grand Line is the harshest of the seas…..That’s why there are giants and, of course, lots of bounty hunters. This needs to be a season full of new, surprising elements. That’s why it’s more challenging”.

In addition to discussing the Grand Line’s outrageous threats in One Piece live-action season 2, which are guaranteed to result in some major surprises, they also talked about Oda’s first set visit in Cape Town, South Africa, where the show is filmed. Obviously, having Oda on set was like having the king of pirates himself drop by to check out the ship.

Iñaki Godoy’s Japanese language adventure

Remember Iñaki Godoy’s message from months ago where he stated he had been learning Japanese since the beginning of the year as he wanted to show his respect to the Japanese audience and to Eiichiro Oda by speaking their language? It seems like Godoy’s dream finally came true. While learning a whole another language must be more challenging than his Grand Line adventure, this hard work did pay off.

Straw Hats in One Piece live-action | Credit: Tomorrow Studio

Not only did he was able to communicate with Eiichiro Oda face-to-face, but he went full-on conversational, even managing to crack jokes in between. His decision to learn Japanese wasn’t just a PR move; it was a heartfelt effort to honor the world of One Piece. Fans have been loving Godoy’s dedication, as he was able to show off his language skills to the creator himself.

Netflix’s One Piece live-action season 2 is shaping up to be an absolute banger. With the Grand Line’s dangers looming, the stakes are higher than ever for the Straw Hats. And at the center of it all is Godoy, ready to bring Luffy’s wild adventures to life once again. But let’s not forget — this isn’t just about epic battles and crazy plot twists. It’s about heart, and Godoy’s got plenty of that.

While the Grand Line might test the Straw Hats, Godoy has proven he’s up for any challenge. Whether it’s mastering a tricky scene or holding a full conversation in Japanese, he’s bringing his top-tier game. And honestly, we can’t wait to see what’s next.