One Piece is one of the most popular anime and manga franchises in the world, and Netflix recently made a live-action adaptation despite past attempts with other series’ having failed. This adaptation lasted eight episodes and got a generally positive reception from critics and fans alike which led to it quickly being renewed for a second season.
There will be several new characters in the second season of One Piece, such as Doctor Kureha and famous actress Jamie Lee Curtis has been voicing her desire (via Instagram) for the role publicly for quite some time. Apart from that, there is also the matter of the character of Captain Smoker, who was teased at the end of the season finale. Here are five actors who should play Smoker, in no particular order.
Joel Kinnaman
Joel Kinnaman is best known for playing Rick Flag, the leader of the DC anti-hero team Suicide Squad, and starred in the two movies in 2016 and 2021, directed by David Ayer and James Gunn respectively. He would be a good fit for Smoker given his familiarity with action films and Smoker will no doubt have a lot of action scenes as he goes up against the Straw Hat Pirates.
Henry Cavill
Known for his roles in the DC Extended Universe as Superman, Mission Impossible: Fallout, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., not to mention The Witcher, Henry Cavill would fit right in as Smoker in One Piece. He has both the acting skills and the physicality to do the role justice and can portray the rough around-the-edge Smoker well.
Brendan Fraser
Though he’s currently in the limelight for his comeback role in The Whale, which won him awards and acclaim, Brendan Fraser has a past with action movies as well, such as The Mummy franchise. That combination of acting talent and action know-how will hold him in good stead should he join the cast of One Piece as Smoker.
Josh Duhamel
Having acted not just in the Transformers films, but also in video games such as Call of Duty: WWII and The Callisto Protocol, Josh Duhamel is no stranger to acting in more unusual, unique ventures. One Piece could certainly be one such unique venture, especially with the role of Captain Smoker for this sometimes underrated actor.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Last but definitely not least on this list, and also the oldest at 64, Jean-Claude Van Damme might seem like an odd choice for the role of Smoker in One Piece at first, especially given his age. But he could potentially be de-aged digitally as has been done several times before, and Van Damme definitely has the martial arts skills and gravitas to fit what is expected to be an action-filled role.
