Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña to play Ace in live-action One Piece Season 3
A major new cast member for the upcoming third season of Netflix’s live-action One Piece has been officially announced.
Xolo Maridueña, star of Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle, has been cast in the pivotal role of Portgas D. Ace.
Portgas D. Ace is one of the most popular and significant characters in the One Piece saga.
He is the sworn older brother of protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and the 2nd division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
His introduction in the story is a key moment that sets major future events in motion, and he will be a central figure in the storyline adapted for Season 3.
The casting of Maridueña marks a high-profile addition to the show’s cast.
He is internationally known for his lead role as Miguel Diaz in the Netflix hit Cobra Kai and as the titular superhero Jaime Reyes in the DC film Blue Beetle.
The early announcement of Ace’s casting comes as Season 3 is in active production, showing Netflix’s strong commitment to the franchise.
This news builds on the anticipation for the show’s second season, One Piece: Into the Grand Line, which recently cast Cole Escola as the fan-favorite Mr. 2, Bon Clay.
The second season is scheduled to begin streaming on March 10, 2026.
This is one of several recent major announcements for the One Piece franchise.
It was also revealed that the long-running One Piece anime will shift to a new seasonal, 26-episode-per-year format, entering a brief hiatus before premiering the “Elbaf Arc” in April 2026.
In the manga, a new promotional video for Volume 113 confirmed that veteran voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda will play Saint Shamrock, the twin brother of Shanks.
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