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Big casting news for Netflix’s One Piece
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is gearing up for a major expansion: Xolo Maridueña, known to many as the breakout star of Cobra Kai and the lead of DC’s Blue Beetle, has reportedly been cast as Portgas D. Ace for season three. The news, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, marks a notable crossover from superhero cinema to anime adaptation, and it raises expectations for one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
Where production stands and what to expect
Filming for season three is scheduled to begin in Cape Town, South Africa, before the end of the year, according to production sources. That follows the release schedule: season two of the live-action One Piece is set to premiere on March 10, 2025. Netflix’s adaptation—based on Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling manga—follows Monkey D. Luffy’s high-seas quest for the legendary One Piece treasure and the title of Pirate King.
Season one proved the concept’s viability. When it debuted in 2023, One Piece spent eight consecutive weeks in Netflix’s global top ten, reached number one in over 75 countries, and became the first English-language Netflix series to top the charts in Japan. Those metrics helped convince Netflix to steadily invest in ambitious casting and location shoots, leaning into both practical sets and large-scale visual effects to capture Oda’s vibrant world.
Why Xolo Maridueña matters
Maridueña’s casting brings star power and cross-genre appeal. He arrived in mainstream attention via Cobra Kai and then climbed into big-budget superhero territory with 2023’s Blue Beetle. That film’s reception, plus comments from James Gunn that the Blue Beetle character remains part of DC’s plans, suggests Maridueña will be watched closely by both comic-book and anime fans. Portgas D. Ace is an emotionally resonant role with a loyal fanbase—portraying him well is crucial to maintaining the show’s credibility.
Comparisons and context
Live-action anime adaptations have a checkered track record—Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop won praise for performance and style despite mixed reviews, while other adaptations stumbled when failing to honor source material. One Piece’s first season avoided many pitfalls by balancing faithfulness to the manga with cinematic pacing. Adding a familiar face like Maridueña follows a trend where streaming platforms recruit established young stars to broaden appeal.
Behind the scenes, fans have already started speculation threads about Ace’s arrival and how it will reshape Luffy’s arc. On set, Cape Town provides both coastal landscapes and production infrastructure that suits the show’s mix of practical builds and heavy VFX sequences.
"Casting Xolo Maridueña as Portgas D. Ace signals Netflix's intent to blend blockbuster casting with reverence for the manga's emotional core," says cinema historian Marco Jensen. "If the show continues to invest in character-driven storytelling alongside spectacle, it can set a new standard for live-action anime adaptations."
There are still questions: how deep will Ace’s storyline go in season three, and how will the show balance flashier action beats with the more tragic, character-based moments that define Ace in the manga? Fans and critics alike will be watching closely once cameras roll.
Overall, this casting move feels calculated and promising: it keeps momentum from the first season’s success while leaning on cross-genre star power. With season two arriving in March and production for season three imminent, One Piece is shaping up to remain one of Netflix’s most watched and talked-about adaptations.
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