Xolo Maridueña Just Confirmed When Ace Joins Netflix’s One Piece

We finally have our Ace. Netflix has picked Xolo Maridueña to play Luffy's big brother in its One Piece live-action, but pump the brakes: he is not showing up in season 2. Xolo says he has not even been on set yet. Netflix is already planting flags for season 3 while the next batch of episodes is eyeing a March 2026 debut. Here is how it all lines up.

Xolo Maridueña is Ace — but not until season 3

Maridueña revealed on the Lone Lobos YouTube podcast that he is joining One Piece as Portgas D. Ace. He also said the response to his casting has been loud and, refreshingly, mostly upbeat — even though he has not filmed a frame.

"It is overwhelmingly positive, and that feels great, not having even stepped one day onto the set just yet."

Translation: do not expect Ace in season 2 at all. Netflix is slotting his debut for season 3. Also joining the season 3 cast: Cole Escola as Bon Clay, another fan favorite pick that should get people buzzing.

Why the timing is shifting

In the manga/anime, Ace first pops up in the Drum Island arc in a blink-and-you-miss-it way while he is hunting for Luffy. He then reconnects with Luffy during the Arabasta arc and tries to recruit him to Whitebeard's crew. Season 2 of the live-action is already covering the Arabasta Saga, so pushing Ace to season 3 means the show is reshuffling how and when we meet him.

Where could he actually land? Season 3 is expected to move into Sky Island (Skypiea) and Water 7 territory. Ace has a manga cover-story thread around the Jaya arc that could be repurposed for an early season appearance, but the first truly meaty Ace moment is his showdown with Blackbeard in the Water 7 era — a beat that feels more likely to make the cut than his earlier cameos.

Production reality check

Joe Manganiello, who plays Crocodile, told CinemaBlend there is a planned break between seasons 2 and 3 and that he will head back later this year to work on the next part. A fan account shared his comments on May 10, 2025, which points to season 3 filming getting underway toward the end of 2025.

That squares with what Xolo said: if he has not stepped on set yet, either cameras have not started rolling on his material, or Ace shows up deeper into season 3 instead of right out of the gate.

Where things stand (and what to expect)

• Xolo Maridueña is officially playing Portgas D. Ace.
• He has not filmed yet, and Ace will not appear in season 2.
• Netflix is targeting March 2026 for the next One Piece drop (read: season 2), while it is already revealing pieces of the season 3 cast.
• Cole Escola is set to play Bon Clay in season 3.
• Season 3 filming is expected to start later in 2025, per Joe Manganiello.
• Ace's live-action debut is being shifted from his manga Drum Island/Arabasta cameos to season 3, likely around Sky Island/Jaya or Water 7.
• If the show prioritizes bigger story beats, expect the Blackbeard clash during the Water 7 stretch to be the centerpiece of Ace's early arc.

The bottom line

Netflix is staggering the rollout: season 2 in March 2026, season 3 casting already in motion, and Ace arriving when the story can properly spotlight him. Honestly, that is probably the smarter move than cramming in a quick cameo.

One Piece live-action is streaming now on Netflix. Do you buy Xolo as Ace, and when do you think season 3 actually lands? I am guessing late 2027, but I will happily be wrong if they move faster.