Ozark Fans, Did You Recognize Your Favorite Actor in Netflix's One Piece?
The hit show featured at least one familiar face.
It's safe to say that Netflix's live-action adaptation of the iconic Japanese manga One Piece has already become the most popular show of 2023, and rightfully so. Though many fans of the original were a bit apprehensive about the streaming giant making a series based on such a beloved and complicated manga, the end result turned out to be great, with people praising the show's actors, writers, and production values.
However, the project was certainly quite risky, which might explain the lack of bigger-name actors in the cast of the first season. Major Hollywood stars were apparently reluctant to join One Piece for fear that die-hard fans of the manga would destroy it upon release. But thanks to this, many of the less popular actors were finally able to step into the spotlight.
From FBI agent to pirate
Even though fans were not expecting to see any familiar faces in the One Piece cast, one fan-favorite actor did appear in the show. We are of course talking about McKinley Belcher III, who was simply unrecognizable as Arlong, a shark-faced villain of the Arlong Park arc.
Despite fans' initial doubts about Arlong looking like the original manga character in live action, Netflix actually nailed the villain's look, and Belcher did a great job of turning the pirate into a beloved character.
While Belcher's name may not sound particularly recognizable to many people, all Ozark fans know his name by heart, as the actor played FBI Agent Trevor Evans on the hit crime show, cementing himself as a talented performer.
It looks like Netflix executives were so pleased with Belcher's acting prowess that they invited him to continue working on One Piece, and that was certainly the right decision, Lots of fans praise the streaming giant for doing so, arguing that lesser known actors like Belcher should be receiving more recognition and roles in blockbuster projects.
Thanks to One Piece, Belcher's career will definitely continue to rise, as he has once again proven himself to be a skillful actor with his role as Arlong.