“There are no words to express how honored and thrilled I am to join the magnificent cast of One Piece. I adore the world that Oda-san created, and to now step into it as a character is a real dream come true. I’m pinching myself. Thank you, @onepiecenetflix! Next stop, the Grand Line!” shared Daniel Lasker on his social media platforms, X and Facebook.

Congratulations are pouring in across social media for Bulawayo-born, multi-talented artist Daniel Lasker. He has been cast as Mr. 9 in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the immensely popular anime/manga series One Piece.

Daniel Lasker, a multi-award-winning artist, has made significant contributions to the film industry.

He directed Zimbabwe’s first-ever Ndebele Sci-Fi Short Film and is known for his acting roles in “Raised By Wolves” on HBO Max, “Noughts & Crosses” on BBC One, “Vagrant Queen” on SYFY, and “Abraham Lincoln” on the History Channel. At just 25, he is considered one of Zimbabwe’s greatest filmmakers.

Lasker’s achievements include winning the Best Short Film award at the New York Sci-Fi Festival and the Best Short Film award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF). His work has also been recognized at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) in categories such as Outstanding Director, Film, Actress, and Actor.