After six years of being the creative compass for Netflix’s One Piece live-action series, Matt Owens is stepping down from the helm. The co-showrunner and executive producer, who helped guide the ambitious adaptation from Day One, announced he’s officially “stepping off the Going Merry” following the wrap of Season 2.
In an honest and heartfelt Instagram post, Owens shared, “The last six years working on the live-action One Piece have been a life-changing journey. A dream come true. It’s also been A LOT. So I’m stepping off the Going Merry to take a break and focus on myself and my mental health.”
If you’ve been following One Piece, you know Owens didn’t just work on the show—he poured himself into it. He helped shape the tone, the blueprint, and the long-term vision for the series, bringing Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga to life with care, ambition, and a whole lot of heart. His exit is effective immediately, but it’s not expected to slow down the ship. Joe Tracz, who co-led Season 2 with Owens, will now steer the series through post-production and, likely, into the much-anticipated third season.
Owens’ decision to step back is rooted in something deeper than fatigue. For him, One Piece is more than a gig—it’s personal. In a 2023 interview, he opened up about discovering the anime during a rough patch in his early 20s after moving to LA. “I was really depressed at this time,” he said. “I just wanted to go to work and go home and not really deal with people… So I thought, now’s a great time to try and get into One Piece because there are hundreds and hundreds of episodes.”
That spark—lit during a low point—turned into a fire that drove him to help bring the series to life on screen. “I owe this series a lot,” he admitted. And clearly, he gave a lot back in return.
Let’s not forget how One Piece landed when it debuted: Top 10 in 93 countries, #1 in 46 of them, and a whopping 95% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 10,000 ratings. Netflix didn’t just hit the mark—they broke through it.
Still, as any creative knows, sometimes you’ve got to hit pause before you burn out. Owens said it best: “For now I’m gonna take a breath, do some therapy, try and rank up in Marvel Rivals, and come back refreshed for the new adventures that await.”
Now that’s a sign-off.
While there’s no word yet on whether he’ll return for future seasons, Netflix showed love right back, reposting his message with a caption that reads, “You set us on a course for something truly special.”
With Owens stepping aside, it looks like Joe Tracz—who joined in Season 2 and previously worked on A Series of Unfortunate Events and Percy Jackson—will be the sole showrunner moving forward. A third season hasn’t been officially announced, but given the global success, it’s less a matter of “if” and more a matter of “when.”
Season 2, starring Iñaki Godoy (Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp), and Taz Skylar (Sanji), has wrapped filming and is set to drop in 2025.
It’s always tough to see someone who helped build the house take a step away, but if there’s one thing we know from One Piece, it’s that no journey is without detours—and sometimes, even the captain needs to dock for a bit.
Here’s hoping Owens gets the rest he deserves and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see him back aboard the Going Merry down the line. Until then, don’t be surprised if you bump into him in a Marvel Rivals match.