Excerpt:
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece nearly moved too far away from its source material during early development, according to former showrunner Steven Maeda. Speaking on the Trash Taste Podcast, Maeda explained how creator Eiichiro Oda objected to a rewritten version of the first season, prompting Netflix to reconsider its approach.
The original plan called for a 10-episode season. However, after an executive change, the production team was reportedly asked to cut the budget in half and deliver eight episodes instead. These restrictions forced the writers to rethink the story and remove elements they believed were important to the adaptation.
Maeda recalled that the production team had spent considerable time developing the scripts before being asked to make substantial changes.
“We want you to cut the budget in half, and it’s going to be cut down to eight episodes now instead of ten,”
Maeda explained while describing Netflix’s revised demands.
He feared that the production might lose its connection to Oda’s vision or even be cancelled if the creative direction continued.
Oda eventually reviewed the rewritten season and made his dissatisfaction clear. Maeda explained on the Trash Taste Podcast, episode #330, that the creator told Netflix,
That response prompted Netflix to reconsider its approach. Maeda credited the streaming service for recognizing the problem and returning to the production team with a willingness to provide the resources needed for a version closer to the source material.
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