2027 Could Give One Piece a New Lead Hero, With Luffy Out of the Past-Era Story

A story before Luffy’s voyage

Toei Animation announced One Piece Film: God Valley on August 23, 2026, during One Piece Day ’26, with a Japanese theatrical release planned for summer 2027. The teaser shows Roger, Garp, and Rocks, but does not provide a full synopsis.

The incident took place 38 years before the present-day events of One Piece. The film is not replacing Luffy in the main series; its setting instead turns to an earlier generation and a history that shaped his world.

Three figures at the center

Roger may offer the film’s clearest heroic perspective. At the time of the incident, he had not yet become the Pirate King, and his rivalry with Rocks came before the final part of his journey toward the One Piece. The teaser also places him alongside Garp.

Garp’s presence makes the conflict more complicated than a single hero facing a villain. The Marine joined forces with Roger, a pirate, while the official account later credited Garp as the Hero of the Marines and concealed Roger’s role.

Rocks led a crew that included younger versions of Edward Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido. The manga’s extended flashback also gives Rocks personal history and motives, positioning him as more than an opponent for Roger and Garp.

A conflict built on tragedy

In the manga, God Valley was the setting for a World Noble hunting competition that treated the island’s people as prey. Powerful pirates and Marines arrived, turning the atrocity into a battle.

The World Government later tried to erase the truth of what happened. A film about the incident could show the partnership between Roger and Garp behind an official story that gave the Marine sole public credit.

A milestone year, details pending

One Piece began serialization on July 22, 1997, putting its 30th anniversary on July 22, 2027. The film is also the franchise’s first new theatrical feature since One Piece Film: Red opened in Japan in August 2022.

Toei has not announced the director, screenplay, voice cast, exact Japanese premiere date, or international release plans. It has not formally identified a protagonist, and Garp and Rocks remain central alongside Roger.

Weekly One Piece episodes are halting indefinitely. The anime hiatus clears the way for a major canon movie, though the studio has yet to confirm how the film will frame its lead.