After announcing the coming of One Piece Season 2 in September, the manga’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, made a big reveal about the new character coming to the live-action series, Tony Tony Chopper. But knowing that the Straw Hats’ resident doctor is a reindeer that transforms into a human hybrid, it’s a big mystery how Netflix will adapt this character. However, it looks like the mangaka already has an idea for it and reportedly wants Japanese actress Kanna Hashimoto to play the role.
Aside from being the series’ main creator, Oda-sensei works as Netflix’s One Piece’s executive producer. In fact, he was heavily involved in making the series’ first season, ensuring everything was aligned with his hit brainchild. That said, he will surely be a big part of One Piece Season 2, so it’s no surprise that he has some suggestions on who will play the characters he created.
On an episode of the long-running Japanese variety show Sanma no Manma, Hashimoto revealed that Oda-sensei jokingly asked her to play Chopper’s role in One Piece Season 2 after having a chance to meet him. However, she quickly refused.
“I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Oda a few days ago, and he jokingly asked me, ‘Do you want to play Chopper (In the live-action)?’” she said. “I quickly said, 'No, no, no, no, no.'"
Who is Kanna Hashimoto?
Hashimoto is a Japanese actress and a former singer. She was part of the Fukuoka-based idol girl group Rev. from DVL for six years, from 2011 to 2017. Just like Mackenyu, who plays the role of Zoro in One Piece, the 24-year-old is no stranger to being part of live-action anime adaptations.
She played the role of Kaguya Shinomiya in Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War, He Liao Diao in Kingdom, Kagura in Gintama, and Ritsu in Assassination Classroom. She also joined the stage play Spirited Away as Chihiro. For her latest project, she was Little Red Riding Hood in Netflix's Once Upon a Crime.
Evidently, Hashimoto mostly plays female roles in those anime live-action adaptations, so it remains to be seen how she will take the role of Chopper if she ever accepts the project. But knowing the offer comes from Oda himself, he probably knows how they will make it. So far, there are no words yet on when One Piece Season 2 will be released.
