Netflix’s One Piece Showrunner Reveals The Next Anime He Wants to Bring Into Live-Action
Following the resounding success of Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation, showrunner Steven Maeda says he would love to tackle the Spy x Family anime. “I love Spy Family so much. It’s just wonderful,” Maeda told ComicBook when asked about the anime’s grip on the industry. “It’s funny you mentioned that one. I’ve been chasing Spy Family for a while.”
‘There are so many great manga and anime titles out there that tell these wonderful stories, and they just haven’t been tapped yet.”
Steven Maeda, One Piece showrunner
While there are currently no concrete plans for a live-action adaptation of Spy x Family, manga sales continue to soar in the United States. As a result, anime series have become integral parts of everyday pop culture. One Piece has become even more accessible thanks to its availability on Netflix. So, it makes perfect sense that Maeda would be enthusiastic about a potential live-action series.
However, Maeda noted that there are challenges that come with adapting anime to live action. “I think there are so many wonderful stories,” Maeda said. “It just has been, I think, difficult getting the crossover… [anime] really is such wonderful source material. There are so many great manga and anime titles out there that tell these wonderful stories, and they just haven’t been tapped yet.”
Considering Maeda’s previous successes in the industry, anime fans are eager to see how Spy x Family would translate to live-action. However, at this time, the anime adaptation of the series is busy with its own projects. October will see the launch of a new season, and in December, Spy x Family is set to release its first-ever film in Japan called Spy × Family Code: White.
“It’s funny you mentioned that one. I’ve been chasing Spy Family for a while.”
Steven Maeda, One Piece showrunner
Spy x Family began as a popular Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo. The series made its debut in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump+ digital magazine in March 2019 and has gained significant popularity since its release. It has been well-received by fans and critics for its unique blend of genres and engaging storytelling.
Spy x Family is set in an alternate, espionage-filled world and revolves around the lives of three main characters. Twilight/ Loid Forger, the protagonist of the story, is a highly skilled spy working for an intelligence agency. Twilight is tasked with infiltrating an elite school to get close to a target, but he needs a cover identity and a family to do so.
Yor Forger is a professional assassin who poses as Twilight’s wife to create the illusion of a normal family. She initially has no knowledge of Twilight’s true profession, but she eventually discovers the truth. Anya Forger, the adopted daughter of Twilight, is a young girl with mind-reading abilities. Due to her powers, she is the only one who knows the real identity of her family members. But she keeps the information to herself.
As of September 2023, Spy x Family had over 31 million copies in circulation, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling manga series.
Spy x Family explores the comedic and heartwarming dynamics of this makeshift family as they navigate their lives while hiding their true abilities and secrets from each other. Twilight juggles his spy missions and the challenges of parenthood, Yor learns to balance her work as an assassin, and Anya tries to fit in as a regular schoolgirl.
In 2022, the anime television series adaptation of Spy x Family made its debut on television in Tokyo. Muse Communication secured the rights for distribution in Asia, while Crunchyroll acquired global licensing. On May 1, 2022, it was announced that a musical adaptation titled Musical Spy x Family was in the works.
It had its grand premiere at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre in March 2023, followed by a nationwide tour that spanned April and May of the same year. As of September 2023, Spy x Family had over 31 million copies in circulation, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling manga series.
