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The opening moments of Netflix’s One Piece series set a grand stage. Just like in the anime, Gol D. Roger sparks the start of the Golden Age of Piracy by laying down a simple challenge; find his treasure and become the new King of the Pirates. Here, the final moments of Roger’s life are narrated by the illustrious Ian McShane, whose voice is such a perfect fit for the setting that it makes me want more of him.

It feels like a missed opportunity to only have the Deadwood star voice a few lines in the first episode of One Piece, which makes me hope that they’re saving him for some sort of wild reveal later in the series. Imagine how wild it will be to see him pop up later as either a friend or foe of Luffy and the Straw Hats. Of course, that relies on finding the right role for the legendary actor; Netflix, if you’re listening, we have a few ideas.

If we didn’t briefly see him in the opening sequence, we would have suggested Gol D. Roger as the perfect role for Ian McShane in One Piece. He isn’t seen extensively in the series, which will save a bit on the budget, but is iconic enough to have an impact when he appears on screen. However, a version of this character already appeared in the first episode, played by Michael Dorman, which would make it a jarring recast.

Whitebeard is another possibility. A big, notable role that would allow McShane to really enjoy chewing every piece of scenery he gets his teeth into, but there is another option – the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Introduced briefly in the Jaya Arc, Blackbeard serves as one of the main antagonists of the series – usually indirectly coming into conflict with the Straw Hats rather than directly fighting them.

Sure, McShane doesn’t have Blackbeard’s stature – he’s listed as 11’3” tall – but he certainly has the gravitas needed to bring the character to life. Plus, he’s already played Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which would make it a beautifully meta casting moment that we hope Netflix can’t resist.

All of this is pure speculation at this point; there has been no indication thus far that Ian McShane is joining the One Piece live-action cast as anything other than the gravelly voice narrator. However, we can hope, dream, and fancast him all day long until we’re told otherwise. It is, after all, our right as One Piece fans.

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL...ly important to Popverse! That's why we've put together the key articles to keep your fandom of the manga-turned-anime-turned-live-action-show alive:

• How to watch One Piece One Piece in chronological and release order (All 1,100+ episodes plus the movies!)
• When the next episode of One Piece is coming
• The One Piece English cast shared the life lessons they've learned playing the Straw Hats for nearly 20 years
• Why One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy is the perfect hero for the dark times ahead
• Every difference between the live-action One Piece and the original manga
• One Piece Gear 5 Form: Everything we know about Luffy's latest transformation
• Wondering what ethnicity and nationality the One Piece pirates are? Here is what Oda himself has to say
• Ranking the One Piece anime's arcs, from best to worst
• Why is One Piece more popular now that the anime is 25 years old? We asked around and found out
• The English cast of One Piece explain what they love about Eiichiro Oda's storytelling - "He's a genius!"