Netflix’s One Piece Finally Confirmed Who Is Playing Luffy’s Brother Ace, But There’s One Part I’m Bummed About

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I’m really excited about Season 2 of One Piece, which is scheduled to air in 2026! The recent announcement that they’ve finally cast an actor to play Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s brother, makes it even better. It’s fantastic news for fans of the live-action series, although there is one small downside to everything.

Okay, so for anyone who isn’t familiar, Ace is huge in the world of One Piece. I’m really excited about the Netflix series, and they’ve apparently nailed the casting for him – though we’re going to have to be patient before we actually get to see him on screen!

Netflix Confirmed Xolo Maridueña Is Playing Portgas D. Ace

It was an open secret that Xolo Maridueña, formerly of Cobra Kai, would play Ace in the live-action One Piece adaptation. Rumors started back in July 2024 when someone connected to the show mentioned his involvement. Netflix playfully hinted at the casting with videos featuring Maridueña and the rest of the cast, but he recently denied the reports. I previously doubted the rumors, and it turns out I was right!

Honestly, it would be a huge surprise if Xolo Maridueña hadn’t landed the role of Ace – the buzz was all about him! I kept hearing rumors, and it seemed like a done deal. But, to be frank, I’d be completely shocked if it turned out differently, especially since Netflix had been dropping hints about the casting for ages.

Ace Won’t Join The Straw Hats Until Season 3

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until One Piece Season 3 to see Xolo Maridueña as Ace. Although Season 3 is happening, it won’t be released until 2027 at the earliest, meaning we won’t see him in the role until then.

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I wasn’t really surprised by this news, especially as an anime fan. Ace doesn’t become a major character until the Alabasta arc, and he only appears briefly earlier on. Since Season 3 will focus on the Alabasta arc, it makes sense that we won’t see much of him before then.

A heads-up for One Piece fans who are new to the series: don’t anticipate seeing a lot of Ace. While he’s a significant character, like many supporting roles in One Piece, his appearances in the anime and manga tend to be brief. However, the first season of the live-action show expanded the storylines of some minor characters, so there’s hope that Netflix might do the same for Ace.

The second season of One Piece will be available on Netflix starting March 10th, and I’m really excited for it! I’m also hoping that Season 3 doesn’t take as long to come out as this one did.

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2025-11-05 22:15