Live-action One Piece showrunner reveals why they’re leaving after Season 2

One Piece, the live-action Netflix adaptation of the popular manga, has just wrapped Season 2, and co-showrunner Matt Owens is stepping back from the series.

The first season of the manga adaptation arrived in 2023, bringing about the highly-anticipated live-action version of Eiichiro Oda’s work.

The Netflix series was met with positive reviews, and became the most-watched show on the streaming service during the latter half of the year.

Just two weeks after it dropped, the announcement came that Season 2 would soon be on the way. Now that the next batch of episodes has finished production, Owens, co-showrunner, is taking a break.

One Piece showrunner leaves series after S2 for mental health

Posting to his personal Instagram on March 21, Owens explained why he was leaving in a statement to fans.

“The last six years working on the live-action One Piece have been a life-changing journey,” he wrote. “A dream come true. It’s also been A LOT. So I’m stepping off the Going Merry to take a break and focus on myself and my mental health.

Netflix

“Thank you so much to Oda, Shueisha, Tomorrow Studios, Netflix, and the entire cast and crew for your trust, partnership, and hard work. For now I’m gonna take a breath, do some therapy, try and rank up in Marvel Rivals, and come back refreshed for the new adventures that await.

“Thanks to everyone who has supported me. See you real soon!”

The official One Piece account then reposted his message, adding in the caption, “You set us on course for something truly special.”

Instagram

Owens was showrunner on the first season alongside Steven Maeda, with the two having developed the series. Maeda left the show before Season 2, and was replaced by Joe Tracz, who will now take over showrunner duties in Owens’ absence.

No release date has been confirmed for One Piece Season 2, but it’s believed it will arrive at the end of 2025.

For more, check out our guides to the best anime movies and the best manga to read now that Jujutsu Kaisen is over. You can also check out what other new TV shows are coming out this month.