The creator of the world’s best-selling manga is already looking far ahead. While millions of viewers are counting down the days until March 10, 2026, for the release of One Piece Season 2: Into the Grand Line, Eiichiro Oda has confirmed that Netflix is not just planning for the next season, but is actively executing a larger, long-term strategy for the franchise.
During the Jump Festa 2026 event in December, Oda shared a special letter that went far beyond the usual teasers. He confirmed that Season 3 is already filming in South Africa and will wrap up the entire Alabasta Saga. But more importantly, he hinted that Netflix is making moves for the live-action show’s future well beyond these two installments. With the streamer renewing the show before Season 2 even dropped and production running back-to-back, the plan for the Straw Hats is clearly to sail for many more years.
Oda Confirms Season 3 Filming and Alabasta Finale
The biggest and most concrete news coming directly from Oda’s Jump Festa letter is the status of Season 3. Unlike most TV shows that wait for a season to air before planning the next, One Piece is running a different race.
Eiichiro Oda stated clearly that filming for Season 3 has already begun. This is not a preemptive renewal based on hopes; cameras are already rolling in Cape Town. He explicitly confirmed that the third season will conclude the Alabasta saga .
This is a massive storytelling commitment. The Alabasta saga is the first major test for Luffy and his crew in the Grand Line. It introduces the dangerous Baroque Works organization and features the epic clash with Sir Crocodile. By confirming that Season 3 will finish this entire story, Oda and Netflix are showing they are dedicated to adapting the source material faithfully, without rushing or cutting corners.
“In fact, filming has already begun on Season 3, which will conclude the Alabasta saga. Please look forward to it!” – Eiichiro Oda, via Jump Festa 2026 letter .
Netflix’s Casting Plan Reveals a Long-Term Strategy
One of the strongest indicators of Netflix’s “huge plan” is the casting for Season 3. Usually, streamers announce actors for upcoming seasons closer to the release date. However, Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai, Blue Beetle) and Cole Escola have already been officially announced as series regulars for Season 3, despite Season 2 still being a month away from release .
Xolo Maridueña is set to play Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s older brother. In the original story, Ace is a character with a deep, emotional arc that stretches far beyond a single appearance. Casting a rising star like Maridueña indicates that Netflix is planning for Ace to have a significant role not just in Season 3, but in potential future seasons covering major storylines like Marineford.
Furthermore, Oda mentioned in his letter that the production team is thinking about the “general public” and “international audiences.” He noted that many projects are aimed at a global scale, suggesting that Netflix is treating One Piece as a flagship global franchise, similar to Stranger Things or Wednesday .
The “Crazy” Scale: Oda’s Warning for What Comes Next
In his Jump Festa letter, Oda used a very specific phrase regarding the future of One Piece as a whole, which directly applies to the live-action show’s momentum.
“After this… things are going to get crazy.” – Eiichiro Oda .
While he was partly referencing the manga’s Elbaph arc, the context of his letter was a summary of everything coming in 2026, including the live-action series. The fact that Netflix is investing in back-to-back production schedules (Season 2 wrapped, Season 3 started immediately) proves they agree with Oda’s assessment.
Netflix has positioned the franchise for year-round engagement. Beyond the show, there are major collaborations with LEGO and Moose Toys, and an immersive experience coming to Netflix House . This isn’t the strategy for a show that is expected to end soon. This is the infrastructure for a decade-long series.
Season 2 Release Details for Global Audiences
Before the future arrives, the immediate present is March 10, 2026. Netflix has locked in this date for the global launch of One Piece Season 2 .
Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia will be able to stream the season starting at 12:00 a.m. PT on March 10. For viewers in India, the show will be available on Netflix India from March 10, 2026, with subtitles in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, as per standard Netflix local language offerings.
To support the launch, Netflix is hosting 13 global fan events starting February 23 in Mexico City, with stops in Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Jakarta, Cape Town, and more . This massive promotional tour shows the level of financial and logistical backing Netflix is putting behind the property.
What Has Already Been Locked for Season 3
The table is set for Season 3 to be significantly bigger than Season 2. Here is the confirmed information regarding the next chapter:
- Production Status: Filming is currently underway in Cape Town, South Africa .
- Story Arc: The season will cover the remainder of the Alabasta saga, including the conflict with Baroque Works and the royal capital of Alubarna .
- New Cast (Confirmed) : Xolo Maridueña as Portgas D. Ace, Cole Escola as Bon Clay, Awdo Awdo as Mr. 1, and Daisy Head as Miss Doublefinger .
- Showrunning: Ian Stokes, who worked on Season 1, will join Joe Tracz as co-showrunner for Season 3 .
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The Core Meaning of Oda’s Message
To understand the core of this news, one must look at Oda’s level of involvement. He personally visited the set in South Africa. He approved the casting of every new Straw Hat. He is writing letters to update the world not just on his manga, but on the Netflix production schedule.
When Oda says Netflix has big plans, he is speaking as the gatekeeper. He has final approval. He shut down previous adaptations for decades because they were not right. Now, with Season 3 already in the can (or currently filming), he is telling the audience that he trusts this team to handle the massive scale of Alabasta and beyond.
The plan is clear: Season 2 establishes the Grand Line and Chopper. Season 3 conquers Alabasta. And the fact that they are filming Season 3 before anyone has even seen the Loguetown or Drum Island arcs in live-action proves that Netflix is treating One Piece like a long-term theatrical franchise, not just a disposable streaming series.
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