When Netflix announced live-action One Piece, everyone asked: How do you portray an "impossible" character?
Then came Iñaki Godoy.
The Philosophy: Playing an "Idea"
The key to understanding Godoy's Luffy lies in a profound revelation: he plays Luffy more as an "idea" or "concept" than as a person.
This is brilliant because Luffy isn't meant to be relatable. He represents the freedom and optimism we wish we had . He's someone who makes us want to become better. Godoy admits that when he doubts himself, he asks "What would Luffy say?"—and that helps him move forward.
That's not acting. That's symbiosis.
The Physical Commitment
Godoy did plenty of his own stunts. VFX Supervisor Victor Scalise revealed: "When it came to the punches, his body performance was so good... a lot of it is him in there".
For Season 2, Godoy's newly "ripped physique" went viral . This wasn't vanity—it was dedication to accuracy.
The Emotional Anchor
The most difficult scene he filmed was quiet—the lifeboat conversation with Koby. Godoy knew he had to "get this scene right" because "Luffy's all about dreams".
His insight? "He's not just a ball of energy. He's a ball of energy who listens". This understanding anchors the entire performance.
The Season 2 Evolution
For Season 2, Godoy felt "so much more confidence in my knowledge of the source material, in what I wanted to bring to the table, and also just in me".
This confidence shows. One tiny moment he fought for? When Chopper joins, Luffy puts chopsticks in his nose. "It's so silly and so stupid. But... it shows that Luffy has this thing of being very approachable" .
The Human Behind the Hero
His castmates describe him as "very energetic" with "toddler level energy" who suddenly needs nap time . Emily Rudd affectionately compares him to a baby.
The Verdict
Even Eiichiro Oda himself was sold. Showrunner Steven Maeda recalled: "He certainly didn't think that we were going to be able to cast someone for Luffy as good as Iñaki".
A "perfect" Luffy may never exist in live-action . But Godoy found the soul of Luffy and let it live through him.
And that's worth going to the Grand Line for.
