If you wanted confirmation that Netflix has confidence in its live-action One Piece series, look no further than the fact that not only did it renew the show for season 3 early, it’s already started casting new characters for that arc.
Netflix has announced that a DCU/DCEU crossover star is joining the cast. That would be Xolo Maridueña, who plays Blue Beetle, and has a history with Netflix after starring in every season of Cobra Kai. It’s been announced that he will play Portgas D. Ace in season 3, and joins the only other cast member announced, Cole Escola as Bon Clay.
Who is Portgas D. Ace? Here’s his breakdown, where there could be some show spoilers, so beware:
“Portgas D. Ace, born as Gol D. Ace and nicknamed “Fire Fist” Ace, was the captain of the Spade Pirates before being recruited into the Whitebeard Pirates and becoming its 2nd division commander. The biological son of the late Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge, Ace was put in the care of Monkey D. Garp and Curly Dadan after Roger’s death, which is where he became the sworn brother of Monkey D. Luffy and Sabo. Due to Roger’s absence from his life, Ace disowned his father and took his mother’s surname, ultimately declaring that his captain Whitebeard was his true father.”
Maridueña is still a superhero these days, though his association with the current state of DC is a bit odd. His Blue Beetle movie came out during the DCEU era of movies, though it was barely connected to any of them. It was a well-liked production, even if it wasn’t a blockbuster megahit. Then, surprisingly enough, new DCU head James Gunn said he was porting his Blue Beetle over to the DCU because he said that he fit in that universe. He’s one of very few DCEU characters to make the journey over outside of Gunn’s Peacemaker cast. Gunn hinted that he could show up in season 2 of Peacemaker, but he…didn’t. There are no confirmed Blue Beetle projects, but a likely one is Teen Titans, though the status of that project is unknown, as its writer moved over to the recently announced Wonder Woman movie.
As for One Piece, we likely will not see Maridueña’s Ace for quite some time. One Piece season 2 will not premiere until March 10, 2026, and it would be surprising if season 3 is less than two years after that. But that cast list is likely to start filling up quickly, if they’re already announcing roles this far out.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.