Xolo Maridueña casting in One Piece is now official. Netflix has confirmed that Maridueña will play Portgas D. Ace in Season 3 of the live-action adaptation, which returns to production later this year in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ace is a central figure in the One Piece universe, and his arrival marks a key moment in the story’s progression as the Straw Hats enter the Grand Line and encounter new allies and rivals.
Maridueña is known for his leading role in Blue Beetle and for playing Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai.
Season 3 will follow the upcoming second season, titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, which premieres March 10, 2026 on Netflix.
Who Is Portgas D. Ace in One Piece?
Ace is introduced in the manga and anime as a charismatic and independent pirate with personal ties to protagonist Monkey D. Luffy. While Netflix has not released character summaries or arc-specific details for the live-action version, Ace is widely recognized as an important figure in Luffy’s past and in the larger political and emotional landscape of the One Piece world.
The press announcement describes Ace only by name, without elaborating on storyline or narrative placement.
For now, the casting indicates the series is moving into material that expands the world beyond the original East Blue setting.
Xolo Maridueña Joins New and Returning Cast
Maridueña joins Cole Escola, previously announced as Bon Clay, another character whose introduction signals expansion into larger regional conflicts and character networks. Additional Season 3 cast has not yet been announced.
Returning core cast includes:
- Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy
- Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro
- Emily Rudd as Nami
- Taz Skylar as Sanji
- Jacob Romero as Usopp
This ensemble has anchored the live-action adaptation since its debut in 2023.
Production and Creative Team
Season 3 will be co-led by Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes, who serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. The series remains created in partnership with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios and Netflix.
Executive producers include:
- Eiichiro Oda
- Marty Adelstein
- Becky Clements
- Tetsu Fujimura
- Chris Symes
- Christoph Schrewe
- Steven Maeda
The production location remains the same as previous seasons, maintaining continuity in set design, wardrobe, and staging.
About the One Piece Live-Action Series
The live-action adaptation is based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga, which has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide across over 100 volumes. The Netflix series became a global hit upon release in 2023, holding the #1 spot in over 75 countries and becoming the first English-language Netflix series to debut at #1 in Japan.
Its audience spans long-time fans and viewers encountering the story for the first time, with new seasons moving further into the Grand Line arc.
Key Details: Xolo Maridueña One Piece
- Role: Portgas D. Ace
- Season: 3
- Production Start: Later this year in Cape Town, South Africa
- Season 2 Release Date: March 10, 2026 (Netflix)
- Showrunners: Joe Tracz & Ian Stokes
- Based On: One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda
- Produced By: Tomorrow Studios and Netflix