Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is more than just a manga, it’s a living legend spanning nearly three decades. Since its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997, Luffy’s journey has become a cherished part of childhood for countless generations. Now, as the manga enters its Final Saga and the anime prepares to return in April 2026 after a short break to begin the Elbaph arc, fans’ curiosity about the series’ future has never been greater.
Surprise Reveal from Netflix Podcast
Following the huge success of One Piece live-action season 2, Netflix released a special six-episode podcast series exploring the production process. In the first episode, actor Iñaki Godoy, who plays Luffy, had an unexpected video call with Oda himself.
When Iñaki asked, “Oda-san, is there anything you want to learn or do in the future that you don’t know how to do yet? Just for fun?”, Oda’s answer gave fans plenty to think about: “I will travel endlessly. Once I finish the series, I will just travel.”
No Plans for Another Long Series?
This statement strongly suggests that Oda has no plans to start another long-running manga project after One Piece ends. Having worked tirelessly for 30 years under a demanding weekly schedule, his desire to rest and explore the world is well deserved.
Although Oda previously hinted that if he were to write a spin-off, it might focus on Garp or Dragon, nothing has been officially confirmed. It seems that after dedicating his youth to building a vast pirate world, Oda simply wants to become a true traveler in the real world.
The Journey to Laugh Tale Is Still Far Away
For fans worried about saying goodbye to the Straw Hat crew, the good news is the ending is still a few years away. Although the manga entered the land of giants, Elbaph, in September 2025 (according to the story’s timeline), many plot threads remain unresolved.
After the Elbaph arc, the Straw Hats still need to reach Laugh Tale and take part in the final great battle. Given the massive scale Oda has prepared, fans can rest assured that we will continue to follow Luffy’s adventures for at least a few more years before the creator embarks on his lifelong journey of travel.