Nothing is scarier than the end of an era. Netflix is learning just how true this is in the wake of Stranger Things‘ finale. After nearly a decade, Stranger Things came to a close in December 2025, bringing Netflix’s flagship original to bed. In the aftermath, fans are all starting to wonder what Netflix’s next big thing will be, but the answer is staring us all in the face.
And what might that be? Netflix made it clear this week with two major orders. Not only is the streaming service giving One Piece an official LEGO TV special, but it has confirmed when the series’ live-action show will return for season three. Between the anime’s new arc and an impending remake, Netflix is going all in on One Piece, so there’s no need to speculate about its Stranger Things replacement. Netflix has already crowned it.
Netflix’s New Golden Child Is One Piece, No Doubt
Given the time Netflix has put into One Piece, it is easy to see how invested the platform is in Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling series. This year, all eyes are on the service’s live-action adaptation of One Piece as season two just went live to high praise. Both critics and fans alike have been quick to compliment the series as it has a staggering 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. With nearly 3,000 reviews from fans, the site’s total score for One Piece season sits at 95%, which is singularly impressive given Hollywood’s iffy history with live-action anime.
In the wake of One Piece season one, Netflix’s marketing for the adaptation has been steadily growing, a trend that audiences saw during Stranger Things’ rise to the top. Not only did global activations go live for One Piece ahead of season two, but the show’s merchandise is hard to escape. From outlets like Hot Topic to Target, you can find Netflix’s hit anime adaptation on demand, giving the franchise the kind of household name it’s been missing stateside.
One Piece season three will not make its grand debut until 2027 per Netflix, but in the meantime, the streaming service is still pouring resources into the IP. This week, reports confirmed Netflix is following up its live-action hit with a LEGO special.
“Debuting Sept. 29, the LEGO ONE PIECE animated special is a two-part retelling of the unforgettable events from Seasons 1 and 2 of the pirate saga. Follow along as Usopp, the Straw Hats’ most reliably unreliable narrator, regales the newest and cutest recruit, the reindeer-boy hybrid Tony Tony Chopper, with the group’s epic exploits across the East Blue and into the legendary Grand Line,” Netflix announced, teasing the special’s release.
Partnering with the LEGO Group, Netflix isn’t hiding its faith in One Piece by any means. From exclusive anime projects to simulcast schedules, the streaming service is going all in on the next big thing. And of course, this investment is only getting started.
What’s Next for One Piece on Netflix?
Asides from the release of One Piece season three, Netflix is juggling a number of projects tied to the IP. For one, the original anime just began its new arc, the much-anticipated Elbaph saga. Netflix is releasing new episodes of the anime weekly for fans, staying up-to-date with Toei Animation’s prized anime ahead of its upcoming hiatus.
Perhaps the biggest project Netflix has in the works for One Piece is its full-blown remake of the anime. Announced at Jump Festa 2025, Wit Studio has been tasked with producing a total remake of Oda’s hit series, which will be called The One Piece. The full-length adaptation promises to faithfully adapt the manga into a new style, starting with Oda’s East Blue saga. Netflix has already confirmed it will be the exclusive home of The One Piece, further cementing the streaming service’s commitment to the Straw Hat crew. At this time, no official release date has surfaced for the remake, but One Piece fans are hopeful Wit Studio will have an official update on the project by the year’s end.
- Created by
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Eiichiro Oda
- First Film
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One Piece: The Movie
- Cast
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Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
- Character(s)
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Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
