Steven Maeda, lead writer and executive producer for Netflix’s One Piece, has been candid about his praise for Iñaki Godoy. He believes that the Mexican actor brought “a kind of relentless optimism” to his role which separated him from other candidates for the audition.
Godoy plays the role of Monkey D. Luffy, the character whose desire to capture the One Piece treasure begins a series of adventures. He is the only cast member who is featured in every Season 1 episode. Moreover, he was part of some of the best action sequences in the series.
Steven Maeda Gave His Opinion About Other Actors Who Auditioned For The Role Of Luffy
One Piece Live-Action producers had to be particularly careful in choosing the cast for Luffy. He was the soul of the series and if the actor failed, the show would’ve been a failure as well. Steven Maeda eventually found Iñaki Godoy to be perfect due to the passion he bought into the role.
Maeda also revealed that the other audition candidates came off as “salesmen” who just spoke their lines rather than actually meaning them. As disclosed during an interview with Screen Rant Plus:
“The thing that he (Godoy) did that he embodied Luffy was this kind of relentless optimism that didn’t feel grating or irritating or like he was trying to sell us something. Because a lot of the actors who read for us come from a little more sharp and cynical place perhaps, and they came across as salesmen, as opposed to someone who genuinely believed in what they were saying. The key to Luffy’s performance is Iñaki’s absolute sincerity, which works because Iñaki is an absolutely sincere young man.”
Iñaki Godoy will reprise his role as Luffy in Season 2. Currently, the plan is to adapt the manga into 12 seasons with Chopper and Smoker being the next additions in the series.
Iñaki Godoy of Netflix’s One Piece Began His Acting Career At The Age Of 13
Becky Clements previously revealed to Deadline that over 100 people auditioned for the role of Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece Live-Action. The reason that they chose the 20-year-old Iñaki Godoy was not just because of his experience but his ability to adapt his character work. He even made a blunder in his first audition but eventually set things right.
Godoy landed his first role at the age of 13 in the Spanish Telemundo series La querida del Centauro, where he played the role of Amadeo “El Gato.” He later got side roles in Blue Demon, No Fear of Truth, and Los Elegidos. His breakthrough came in 2020 when he starred as Pedro in Go Youth, which was nominated for best film at the Morelia International Film Festival.
Before One Piece Live-Action, Iñaki Godoy was known for his role of Tavo in MexZombies. The thriller is based on teens and their ability to survive after a zombie apocalypse hits the world. A film directed by Chava Cartas, it popularised Godoy’s acting skills as a lead and the rest is history.
Also Read: “It’s a challenge for sure”: ‘One Piece’ Season 2 May Finally Bring One Fan Favorite Character
