Summary
Anticipation for the second season of Netflix’sOne Piecelive-action series has just hit a new high with the announcement of who’s set to portray Dr. Kureha. Surprisingly, the actor chosen for this role is not who many fans had anticipated.
Netflix’sOne Pieceis back in production for its second season, with the crew recently returning to South Africa to kick off filming. As the main cast resume their roles, as seen BTS donning their costumes, the upcoming season is set to introduce exciting newcharacters like Tony Tony Chopperand Nico Robin. Additionally, Dr. Kureha is among the anticipated additions. Fans have been eagerly waiting for this iconic character’s appearance, and recent speculation suggests that Netflix’sOne Piecemight have already cast an actor to portray Dr. Kureha, bringing this iconic figure to life on screen.
The officialOne PieceX/Twitter accounthas revealed that actress Katey Sagal will be joining the Netflix adaptation, stepping into the role of the stern Dr. Kureha. Known for her iconic roles inFuturama,Sons of Anarchy, andMarried… with Children, Sagal has been a favorite choice for this character in recent times. TheOne Piecepost on X also included the news that actor Mark Harelik will portray Dr. Hiriluk, Chopper’s mentor and fellow medic. Rumors about Sagal’s casting started circulating after theOne Pieceteam addressed speculation that Jamie Lee Curtis, a renowned scream queen andOne Piecesuperfan, and previous frontrunner for the role, would be taking on the role of Kureha.
Sagal’s casting as Kureha comes after extensive speculation that Curtis would take on the role of the experienced doctor in Netflix’sOne Piece. In the run-up to the series’s second season, Curtis even shared a Photoshopped image of herself as Kureha on social media, playfully asking Netflix when they would contact her. Furthermore, showrunnerMatt Owens seemed to hint at Curtis' involvementin a previous interview, expressing a strong desire to have her on board. However, in a later interview, Tomorrow Studios president Becky Clements disclosed that they had to consider other options due to scheduling conflicts. Despite persistent fan campaigns advocating for Curtis, the show’s team confirmed that theHalloweenstarwould not be joining the cast, as her commitment to filmingFreaky Friday 2made it impossible to align with the production schedule forOne Pieceseason two.
Speculation about Katey Sagal joining the cast began after theOne Pieceteam and Jamie Lee Curtis confirmed that Curtis, initially favored for the role, would not portray Kureha. Following this revelation, fans closely watched arecent interviewwith Sagal, where she was asked about her upcoming projects. In her response, Sagal hinted at something significant without disclosing details due to a non-disclosure agreement, saying, “I have a really good thing but I signed a [NDA], so I can’t say it. I can’t say what I am going to do. Very soon, I am going very far away that I cannot talk about.” While Sagal didn’t specify the project, many fans linked her comments to Netflix’sOne Pieceseason two, which is filming in Cape Town, South Africa — definitely “very far away.” Additionally, the timeline of Sagal’s upcoming work seems to align with the production schedule ofOne Piece, which is currently working on its second season and might soon require Dr. Kureha on set.
Netflix’sOne Pieceseason one is now streaming, with season two set for a 2025 release.
