Cobra Kai Star Xolo Maridueña Sets Sail with Netflix’s One Piece Season 3

Netflix is moving the ships around for One Piece in a big way: season 2 finally has a date, season 3 is already gearing up to shoot, and there are some interesting additions behind and in front of the camera. Here is the rundown without the fluff.

Season 2 gets a date

Season 2 hits Netflix on March 10, 2026, with the returning cast set to reprise their roles. Yes, the wait is long. Yes, Netflix is announcing it very early. Welcome to 2025.

Season 3 is already in motion

Even though season 2 is still months out, season 3 is headed back into production later this year in Cape Town, South Africa. Casting is heating up too:

• Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai, Blue Beetle) is joining as Portgas D. Ace. The reveal went out on both the official One Piece Instagram and Maridueña's own account.
• Cole Escola, previously announced, is playing Bon Clay.
• Showrunning shift: Ian Stokes, who wrote season 1's 'The Man in the Straw Hat' and co-wrote 'The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo,' will co-run season 3 with Joe Tracz. Stokes is also co-writing the season 2 premiere, 'The Beginning and the End,' with Matt Owens (who developed the series alongside Steven Maeda).
• Season 3 executive producers: Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes (also serving as writers/showrunners), plus Eiichiro Oda; Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements for Tomorrow Studios; Tetsu Fujimura; Chris Symes; Christoph Schrewe; and Steven Maeda.

Why Netflix is so loud about it

The streamer is doubling down because the live-action One Piece turned into a genuine hit when it debuted in 2023. The show spent eight weeks on Netflix's Global Top 10, reached #1 in 75-plus countries, and became the first English-language Netflix series to debut at #1 in Japan. Netflix also touts nearly 100 million views and says it is one of their most downloaded titles ever. Awards-wise, the series picked up 11 nominations at the Children's & Family Emmys, including Outstanding Young Teen Series.

Meanwhile, the franchise machine rolls on: the live-action series is based on Eiichiro Oda's record-smashing manga (100+ volumes, 500 million copies sold worldwide). Netflix is layering in off-screen stuff too, including an immersive experience at Netflix House and plenty of merch — LEGO, Moose Toys, and more via Netflix Shop and regular retailers. The show is produced with Shueisha and comes from Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner).

The bottom line

Season 2 lands March 10, 2026. Season 3 shoots later this year in Cape Town with new faces like Xolo Maridueña as Ace and Cole Escola as Bon Clay, plus a showrunning tag-team of Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes. If you were hoping Netflix would slow-walk this, they are doing the opposite — and given how big season 1 was, I get it.