The wait for One Piece fans to hear from their new Ace is finally over. Xolo Maridueña, known for his roles in Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle, has spoken publicly for the first time about joining Netflix’s live-action series as Portgas D. Ace for Season 3.
The casting news first came out in November 2025. But until now, fans had not heard directly from the actor himself about taking on one of the most beloved characters in the One Piece universe. That changed on August 31, 2026, when Netflix and the official One Piece Netflix account shared a video of Maridueña opening up about the role.
The Moment He Found Out About the Casting
Maridueña shared that the moment his casting as Ace was made public, his phone did not stop buzzing. People he knew and even acquaintances reached out to him right away.
“Soon as my character was announced, I got so many texts like, ‘What? You’re going to be on One Piece? I love it!’”
The 25-year-old actor mentioned that the reaction from people around him was instant and full of excitement. Many were surprised and thrilled to learn he would be part of the One Piece live-action adaptation.
Filming in South Africa and the Alabasta Desert
Maridueña also talked about the filming experience, especially the large-scale production in Cape Town, South Africa. He mentioned the hot sun during shooting and joked that he would miss that sun.
The actor was particularly impressed by the sets built for Alabasta, the desert kingdom where Season 3 takes place. He noted the huge amount of sand used to bring the kingdom to life. When asked about the most impressive set during production, Maridueña highlighted the efforts to recreate Alabasta’s desert scenery.
Keeping Ace’s Hat as a Souvenir
Maridueña revealed that he plans to keep Ace’s signature hat after his time on the show ends. This small detail has already gotten fans more curious about his debut in the series. The hat is an iconic part of Ace’s look, and keeping it shows how much the role means to him.
Who Is Portgas D. Ace
For those who do not know the original story, Ace is the older brother of Monkey D. Luffy, the main character of One Piece. He is part of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the strongest groups in the series. Ace has the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, which lets him control fire and turn his body into flames.
Ace is kind, very loyal, and has one of the most emotional stories in the entire One Piece series. He makes his first appearance during the Alabasta arc, which is exactly what Season 3 will cover.
One Piece Season 3: The Battle of Alabasta
Season 3 is officially titled One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta. The story follows Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they try to save Princess Vivi’s kingdom from a takeover. The main villain is Sir Crocodile, a powerful warlord who leads the criminal group Baroque Works.
Filming for Season 3 finished earlier in 2026. The production wrapped in Cape Town, South Africa. Netflix has not given an exact release date yet, but the season is expected to arrive sometime in 2027.
Other New Cast Members Joining Season 3
Maridueña is not the only new face in Season 3. The cast is expanding with many new characters for the Alabasta story:
- Cole Escola as Bon Clay
- Awdo Awdo as Mr. 1
- Daisy Head as Miss Doublefinger
- Emilio Sakraya as Koza
- Omid Abtahi as Toto
- Jamie Ward as Pell
- Nabeel Khan as Chaka
Returning cast members include Charithra Chandran as Princess Vivi, Joe Manganiello as Sir Crocodile, Lera Abova as Nico Robin, Sendhil Ramamurthy as King Cobra, and Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper. Many of these actors have been promoted to regulars on the show.
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What This Means for the Series
Ace is one of the most important characters in the One Piece world. Getting his character right is not an easy task. Many fans were hoping Maridueña would get this role because of his acting skills and the chemistry he could bring.
The casting of Maridueña shows that the production team wants to treat Ace as one of the big highlights of Season 3. The audience reaction is already strong, and that usually means a character has real pull before the season even arrives on Netflix.
With filming done and promotional materials starting to come out, excitement for One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta is growing. Maridueña’s performance as Ace is one of the main things fans are looking forward to.
Also Read: One Piece Season 3: Four New Cast Members Join the Battle of Alabasta as Production Wraps
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