Joe Manganiello gave some hints about Crocodile’s role in One Piece Season 2, saying there are some similarities between Crocodile and Luffy. Netflix’s live-action One Piece follows the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the legendary “One Piece” treasure, which could make their captain, Monkey D. Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy), the King of the Pirates. The show currently has an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but Season 2 doesn’t have a release date yet.
In an interview with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier for Deal or No Deal Island, Manganiello talked about Crocodile’s relationship with the Straw Hat Pirates. He mentioned that both Crocodile and Luffy started as young, ambitious pirates but chose very different paths. Manganiello also shared how excited he is to play the villain.
For people keeping up with the pages as they’ve been coming out, especially the Marineford arc and beyond, there’s a real turn for Crocodile later on. But in the early manga, come on, Crocodile’s about as much fun as you can have as a villain.
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I use that term liberally because when you really get into his backstory, he’s not that much different from Luffy in some ways when they were young pirates. It’s just that events happened to Crocodile that put him onto a very different path. When you catch up with him, he’s fully formed as an adult, in some ways meeting himself as that young, wistful-eyed pirate that he once was. You’re catching up with him at the height of his powers, which is a lot of fun for me.
Crocodile’s arrival in One Piece Season 2 adds more tension to the story, as he’s one of the first powerful warlords Luffy faces. But Manganiello’s comments suggest that Crocodile will be more than just a bad guy in this season.
In the manga and anime, he plays a key role in the Arabasta Saga, leading Baroque Works to take over the Arabasta kingdom. However, his backstory and later appearances reveal that his journey took a very different path from Luffy’s. Season 2 seems set to explore his past while staying true to how fans know him.
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Manganiello’s take on Crocodile shows that he’s dedicated to fully understanding the character. Since he’s familiar with the manga’s later events, he sees Crocodile as more than just a tough opponent for Luffy. Season 2’s portrayal of Crocodile will not only make the story more exciting but also prove that the One Piece cast can bring its complex characters to life in live action.
Manganiello’s take on Crocodile fits well with One Piece’s way of giving villains meaningful backstories. Season 2 has the challenge of showing Crocodile as a clever warlord shaped by past mistakes, rather than just making him a typical bad guy. Getting Crocodile’s character right will be important to keep the live-action version of One Piece believable and true to the original story.