Xolo Maridueña Cast as Ace in One Piece Season 3

Netflix has announced that actor Xolo Maridueña will portray Portgas D. Ace in the third season of its live-action series One Piece. The casting news, revealed on social media, highlights the growing ensemble for the adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's bestselling manga.

Maridueña, 24, joins the production following the series' renewal for a third installment in August. He is best known for his role as Miguel Diaz in Netflix's Cobra Kai and as Jaime Reyes in the 2023 DC film Blue Beetle. In One Piece, he will play Ace, the blood brother of the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy, portrayed by Iñaki Godoy. Ace's character features in the upcoming Alabasta Arc, providing key context for Luffy's journey as the young pirate captain assembles his Straw Hat crew to seek the legendary treasure known as the One Piece and claim the title of Pirate King.

The announcement comes shortly after the casting of Cole Escola as the flamboyant assassin Bon Clay, also known as Mr. 2. Production on Season 3 is set to resume in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2025. While no premiere date has been confirmed for the third season, the second season, titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, is scheduled to debut on Netflix...