by James Coulter
Even if you’re not familiar with One Piece, chances are you’ve heard of it. The series has become one of the longest-running and best-selling manga of all time—even more so than Dragon Ball Z!
This swashbuckling epic about a happy-go-lucky, rubber-stretching pirate has spanned nearly three decades with thousands of manga chapters, anime episodes, and even a live-action Netflix series. But could One Piece also become adapted into a theme park attraction at Universal Orlando Resort?
The Rumors
Last year, as reported by The Business Journals, Universal Orlando Resort confirmed that “construction activity” was forthcoming for a themed area at Islands of Adventure. Specifically, a permit had been filed to demolish five acres within the park, likely near the Lost Continent themed area.
Originally opening with Islands of Adventure on May 28, 1999, the Lost Continent had attractions themed to legends and myths. However, part of the land and its rides would be re-themed as part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened on June 18, 2010. Its remaining attractions, the Voyage of Sinbad and Poseidon’s Fury, would later close in 2018 and 2023, respectively.
Since then, rumors have spread about the future of the land. And with Universal recently confirming that the area will be demolished, speculation is high about what the land will be transformed into.
One potential theme for the new land could be Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda video game franchise—a most likely choice, as Universal has already created attractions based on Super Mario and Donkey Kong, and has announced plans to integrate Pokémon into the parks.
However, another potential theme would be One Piece—and considering the franchise’s rising popularity in recent years, that would also be a most likely choice.
The Potential
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a jolly pirate with rubber-stretching abilities who dreams of becoming the King of the Pirates by seeking the legendary treasure, One Piece.
The series originally started as a manga on July 22, 1997. Since then, more than 114 volumes, with over 1,100 chapters, have been released. Over 578 million copies have been sold worldwide, making One Piece the best-selling manga series in history.
One Piece was later adapted into an anime on Oct. 20, 1999, and has since released more than 1,155 episodes. The series has also been adapted into a live-action Netflix show, which recently released its second season—gaining 16.8 million views since its debut earlier this year. The Netflix show has quickly become the most-watched on the platform.
With its popularity in comics, animation, and now live action, One Piece would prove to be a prime intellectual property for Universal Orlando Resort to incorporate into the parks—and at other parks around the world, it already has!
At Universal Studios Japan, The One Piece Premier Show has become a popular high-energy live-action show and restaurant experience. In fact, earlier this year, a version of the show, the ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show, premiered at Universal Studios Hollywood as part of its new Fan Fest Nights. With One Piece proving popular at the Japan and Hollywood parks, it seems like only a matter of time until it arrives in Florida.
The most likely spot would be as a replacement for the Lost Continent area at Islands of Adventure. However, the resort’s new park, Epic Universe, has approximately 40 acres of unused land available on its 120-acre site, allowing for multiple new lands or attractions—including one potentially based on One Piece.
Will One Piece ever arrive at Universal Orlando Resort? Only time will tell. However, with the series’ ever-growing popularity, the question seems less like a matter of “if?” and more like “when?”
