Jamie Lee Curtis Clarifies Why She Didn’t Play Fan-Favorite One Piece Character For Netflix’s Live-Action Season 2

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The new Netflix series, One Piece, is already a hit, but many viewers are disappointed that a key actor isn’t involved.

Netflix launched a live-action version of the hugely popular anime and manga series One Piece in 2023. Created by Eiichiro Oda in 1997, One Piece has been a global best-seller for over thirty years, and the Netflix adaptation is already a massive hit, racking up more than 500 million hours of viewing time.

During an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan while promoting her film Sender, actress Jennifer Curtis explained why she turned down the role of Dr. Kureha, a popular character from the anime One Piece. Dr. Kureha is a 141-year-old doctor known for her strong will, incredible strength, and medical expertise. Despite being a huge fan of the series, Curtis shared the reason she decided not to take the part.

Jamie Lee Curtis shared that Katey Sagal, a close friend, did an amazing job with a physical aspect of her role – specifically, showing off her real stomach. Jamie admitted she wouldn’t have been able to do the same and would have used a fake one instead.

David Dastmalchian: Jamie’s a legit fan.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series for a long time – I grew up watching the original American dub! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to participate in the live-action adaptation because filming took place in South Africa while I was already committed to another project. If it had been filmed closer to home, I definitely would have been involved. But I’m so happy Katey took on the role, and I think it’s a truly amazing adaptation of the anime and manga.

Jamie Lee Curtis recently chatted with her co-star Michael Dastmalchian, who’s known for his role in Dexter: Resurrection, to talk about her new thriller, Sender. Dastmalchian also shared how much he admires Curtis’s work, and she revealed her love for the anime series One Piece.

I have to share this story. I took the role because my kids are huge anime fans, especially One Piece. When Jamie first called about the movie, my son overheard and was so excited – he immediately asked if she was the actress who played the villain in Halloween! I was scrambling to take the call while he was clearly starstruck. They ended up bonding over One Piece, and it was a really special moment – they connected instantly.

Jamie Lee Curtis: It’s a One Piece world, baby.

Season 2 of the popular show One Piece is now available on Netflix and is receiving rave reviews, currently holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix has also confirmed that they’ve started working on season 3, and the cast will be expanded to include Charithra Chandran (as Miss Wednesday), Mikaela Hoover (as Tony Tony Chopper), Joe Manganiello (as Mr. 0), Lera Abova (as Miss All Sunday), and Sendhil Ramamurthy (as Nefartari Cobra), joining the Straw Hat crew.

Netflix revealed at their TUDUM event that Xolo Maridueña, known for his role in Cobra Kai, will play Portgas D. Ace, and Cole Escola, a Tony Award winner for his performance in Oh, Mary!, will portray the assassin Bon Clay.

Season 2 of One Piece is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-03-16 18:58