Netflix’s One Piece cast accused of ‘Arab erasure’ after controversial live-action casting

The casting of an Egyptian character in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece has sparked controversy, with fans expressing their disappointment.

After a successful launch, Netflix has announced the renewal of its One Piece live-action series for a second season. Currently in the midst of production, the show has already gathered its main cast in South Africa.

Ever since being confirmed, the series has been receiving regular updates, such as the addition of new cast members for key roles in the second season. On August 21, it was announced that Katey Segal and Mark Harelik will join the cast as Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk, respectively.

In addition, Season 2 welcomed Sendhil Ramamurthy, known for his roles in Heroes, Beauty and the Beast, and Covert Affairs, as the newest cast member. He will be portraying King Nefertari Cobra, the leader of Alabasta, in the series.

In the heart of The Desert Kingdom of Alabasta, where rebellion stirs and secrets are buried, stands a King like no other. Introducing Nefertari Cobra, the pillar of integrity in a kingdom at crossroads. 🐫🌴 #OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/daCvHeh9RJ

— ONE PIECE Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) August 22, 2024

The recent announcement has caused controversy among fans, as some believe that Cobra should have been portrayed by an Arab actor. Although Ramamurthy is American, his parents hail from India.

Despite being a fictional world, the One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has repeatedly mentioned how real life serves as his inspiration. In fact, a significant portion of the manga’s locations are modeled after actual places. Oda has even revealed that Egypt was the inspiration for Alabasta specifically.

The statement from the mangaka, combined with the speculation that Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran, also of Indian descent, will portray Princess Vivi, has caused a backlash from numerous fans towards the upcoming live-action adaptation.

One fan expressed disappointment in the lack of Arab representation in a production, stating that it feels deliberate at a time when it is most needed. The fan argued that while some may defend the casting choices by citing acting skills, it is hard to believe that there were not enough talented Arab actors available for the role.

“Another X user expressed their disappointment in Netflix for not casting Arab actors as Cobra and Vivi, despite Oda’s clear inspiration from Ancient Egypt for their characters.”

“According to a third person, who mentioned Ayman Samman, this Egyptian American actor is a more suitable choice for Cobra compared to the one picked by OPLA. There is a strong belief that OPLA deliberately avoided casting any Arabs for the Nefertari family due to Zionism, and this cannot be argued.”

The debate could intensify upon the announcement of Vivi’s actor for Netflix’s One Piece live-action, although the timing of this revelation remains uncertain.

This year has seen criticism of the Netflix and One Piece collaboration before. The recent announcement of a reboot anime, ‘The One Piece’, faced backlash for its alleged ‘white-washing’ of characters earlier this month.

If you’re interested, don’t miss the surprise twist Eiichiro Oda announced for Season 2 of One Piece. Additionally, for manga enthusiasts, learn about the significant figures in the Final Saga.