Cobra Kai star joins Netflix’s One Piece cast.
Netflix has announced that Blue Beetle and Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña has joined the cast of One Piece Season 3. Maridueña will play fan-favorite character Portgas D. Ace in the hit live-action adaptation of the record-breaking manga series.
Production and Casting News
Season 3 of One Piece is set to begin production later this year in Cape Town, South Africa. Maridueña joins Cole Escola, who was recently announced as Bon Clay, another beloved character from the franchise. Additional casting announcements will follow as the new season continues development.
The upcoming second season is titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line. It is set to premiere on March 10, 2026, exclusively on Netflix. The new season promises bigger adventures. Season 2 has Luffy and the Straw Hat crew setting sail into the mysterious Grand Line. It is a legendary stretch of sea filled with strange islands, powerful enemies, and unimaginable treasures. Their journey will test their strength, loyalty, and dreams as they chase the world’s ultimate prize: the fabled One Piece.
From Cobra Kai to the Grand Line
Maridueña has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars. He broke out as Miguel Diaz in Netflix’s Cobra Kai. Later, he made his DC debut as Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle. Now, as Portgas D. Ace — the fiery, strong-willed older foster brother of Monkey D. Luffy — he’s taking on a role cherished by anime and manga fans worldwide.
The Legacy and Impact of One Piece
Based on Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling manga, One Piece remains Japan’s highest-selling series of all time, with more than 500 million copies sold globally. Netflix’s live-action version, created in partnership with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios, became a global sensation upon its 2023 premiere.
The series spent eight weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10, hit #1 in over 75 countries, and made history as the first English-language show to debut at #1 in Japan. With nearly 100 million views to date, One Piece is among Netflix’s most-watched titles ever and has earned 11 nominations at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Young Teen Series.
Setting Sail for More Adventures
Season 3 will be co-showrun by Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes, with Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Steven Maeda, and others serving as executive producers. With One Piece: Into the Grand Line launching in March 2026 and Xolo Maridueña joining the crew soon after, Netflix’s high-seas adventure shows no signs of slowing down.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
