Some casting details have been revealed for One Piece season 2, confirming that one new member of the cast will bring new life to a classic One Piece villain. With its release at the end of August 2023, One Piece season 1 was the most-watched show on Netflix in the latter half of the year, as confirmed in a Netflix report (via Netflix). With all eyes on season 2, the pressure is on for the show to maintain its high standard. Fortunately, the casting decisions announced for season 2 so far are promising.

In the 2023 report sharing viewing figures, Netflix also announced that its One Piece show more than doubled viewings of the anime film and series. This confirms that the live-action show is bringing worldwide awareness to one of the best animes of all time. This influence and reach means the live-action show should put special care into tackling some of the trickier arcs inevitable in One Piece season 2. One such arc is Little Garden, but luckily, it seems to be in safe hands thanks to the show’s new star.

Mr. 3 Needs A Way Bigger Role With David Dastmalchian In One Piece Season 2

DC Star Will Revitalise A Classic One Piece Villain

Known for playing DC villains, David Dastmalchian has been cast as One Piece villain Mr. 3, whose role should be amped up in the show to make proper use of this excellent casting. Since One Piece season 1 had huge success on Netflix, it is unsurprising that actors like Dastmalchian are interested in being involved. This bodes well for Mr. 3, a villain whose hair spells out his name in a comedic twist, changing shape to communicate his thoughts. Although not the most popular arc among fans, the Little Garden arc is Mr. 3’s domain, and will benefit from this sound casting.

Mr. 3 is a part of a group of villains called Baroque Works, based in the Grand Line, which is where Monkey D. Luffy and crew are headed at the end of season 1. Luffy and Mr. 3’s collision course is inevitable, but the Little Garden arc may be more welcome with David Dastmalchian spearheading. Although not the biggest arc in the anime or manga, having a big name attached means a much bigger role is deserved in the live-action show.

Why David Dastmalchian Is A Dream Casting For One Piece’s Mr. 3

The Supervillain Actor Is Perfect For Mr. 3

David Dastmalchian has played many roles that prove his suitability for Mr. 3. The show’s strong characterization is key to its continued success as an adaptation, which is where Dastmalchian’s skills will come in handy. As Thomas Schiff in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, for instance, David Dastmalchian proved his ability to play a deranged villain with a larger-than-life screen presence. Although far from the main villain of the movie, Schiff’s unhinged darkness was a great complement to his boss, the Joker. This energy will be key for Mr. 3, who vacillates between terrifying and terrified.

Another great reference for the One Piece villain will be Dastmalchian’s work in The Suicide Squad as perhaps the most useless villain in the DC Universe. Dastmalchian’s hilarious turn as the insecure Polka-Dot Man sets him up well for the bumbling instability of Mr. 3. Now it looks like the One Piece Little Garden arc won’t be skipped, despite its lukewarm reception, Dastmalchian’s solid experience will bring some much-needed flair to the arc and its main villain.

One Piece season 2 will be different to season 1 in many ways, having already laid out the foundations of its story. Now most of the series’ exposition has been done, season 2 is free to dive into the manga’s best villains, spending more time going deep into focused storylines. As such, David Dastmalchian will come into One Piece at the perfect time, and his portrayal of Mr. 3 will be one of many highlights of One Piece season 2.

Source: Netflix