Since the release of One Piece live-action adaptation season 1 by Netflix, fans have been waiting eagerly for the second season, especially to see Zoro actor Mackenyu deliver an epic performance just like he did during the first season. After watching him adapt Zoro to perfection, fans made him one of the most loved actors in the series.
Mackenyu’s portrayal of Zoro was not only appreciated by fans, but many critics believed that it was one of the best performances of One Piece live-action. Mackenyu not only adopted the mean and arrogant demeanor of Zoro, but he also mastered his three-sword style which was evident from his fights in season 1.
However, in a recent interview, Mackenyu talked about his most challenging instance as Zoro which made Zoro’s portrayal a big task for him. Not only that, he also talked about the most difficult fight he had to face during season 1 which made him struggle a little extra for the scene as Zoro.
Mackenyu’s Biggest Challenge as Zoro During One Piece Live-Action
Mackenyu discussed his work as Zoro in the live-action One Piece Netflix series during German Film and Comic Con. Mackenyu related his most challenging Zoro scenes, stating that working on scenes involving Mihawks increased his self-awareness and was probably the most difficult task for him.
The scene in discussion was the fight Zoro had with Mihawk during the Baratie arc. It was one of the most difficult fights Zoro ever had and his declaration after the fight truly made it emotional. Mackenyu said:
“[The most challenging moment] was with Mihawk. It’s a heavy scene for Zoro and it is a very iconic scene in One Piece. I did not want to mess it up.”
Zoro’s fight with Mackenyu is the point in the story where Zoro declares that he will never lose to anyone and will fulfill his and his captain’s dream. Along with that, the fight scene was also very complex as it involved Mackenyu carrying three swords in combat against Steven Ward(The actor who played Mihawk). However, the other most difficult aspect for Mackenyu playing Zoro was his habit of falling asleep.
Read More: One Piece: Zoro’s Missing Eye Might Have a Major Norse God Inspiration That Makes Total Sense
Zoro’s Habit Was The Most Difficult Aspect for Mackenyu
After talking about Zoro’s most difficult fight scene, Mackenyu also shed light on the fact that one of Zoro’s habits also made it quite difficult for him to shoot a scene. Mackenyu explained how Zoro’s habit of sleeping anywhere made him sleepy in real during the scenes. He said:
“It was very hard to keep awake when I was lying on the bed unconscious. I was so sleepy. I think I did kind of fall asleep.”
Zoro loves napping as shown in One Piece anime and manga. Eiichiro Oda once stated that because Zoro guards the ship at night, he does not get enough sleep. Which is why he takes frequent naps during that time. It is an iconic habit of Zoro which became a difficult situation for Mackenyu during One Piece live-action season 1.
