Netflix's One Piece is underway in Cape Town

Filming is underway in Cape Town, South Africa, on the Netflix live-action, manga series, One Piece, according to series showrunner Steven Maeda (Lost, The X-Files).

Netflix has partnered with Tomorrow Studios and Tokyo-based entertainment company Shueisha (publishers of One Piece) to adapt the Japanese best-selling manga, adventure series, which is also due to shoot at Cape Town Film Studios.

The original manga was written by Eiichiro Oda following a young boy made from rubber, Monkey D. Luffy, who uses his powers to lead a group of pirates on a treasure hunt across the East Blue Sea that will crown him the King of the Pirates.

Maeda and Matt Owens, who co-wrote the screenplay will serve as executive producers, alongside Oda, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements for Tomorrow Studios.

The cast includes Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson and Taz Skylar.

In a joint statement, Maeda and Owens said: "We are so excited to set sail with this amazing and talented cast! Finding the right people to pull off the looks, emotions, and actions of the iconic Straw Hats was a long and challenging (and fun) process. Much like the search for the One Piece itself. But we have finally found the perfect fit. They have already begun working very hard to bring these characters to life. You will come to know and love them just as much as their manga counterparts. All of us can't wait to show you what we've come up with! Onward to adventure."