‘One Piece’ Season 3 Is In Production: Here’s Everything Confirmed So Far
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is heading into its third season, and cameras are already rolling. From new cast members to hints about a darker storyline ahead, here’s what we know about the next chapter for the Straw Hat pirates.
Season 3 Is Confirmed and Filming
Netflix confirmed during the One Piece Day event in August 2025 that the live-action series would return for Season 3. Production began in November 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, where previous seasons were also filmed.
No official release date or plot synopsis has been announced. But casting news and comments from the show’s stars are filling in the picture.
The Cast Is Expanding
The Straw Hat pirates will be joined by returning and newly promoted cast members. Charithra Chandran, who plays Princess Vivi, and Mikaela Hoover are both back. Three actors from Season 2 have been promoted to series regulars: Joe Manganiello, Lera Abova and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
On the new casting front, Xolo Maridueña has been cast as Portgas D. Ace, a character with a deeply significant connection to protagonist Luffy. Tony Award–winning Oh Mary! creator Cole Escola will play Bon Clay, a flamboyant fan-favorite from the source material. Daisy Head joins as Miss Doublefinger, and Awdo Awdo as Mr. 1.
These additions suggest the show is preparing to go deeper into the Baroque Works organization, which drove much of Season 2’s plot.
Where the Story Is Heading
Season 2 ended with the Straw Hat pirates realizing the scale of Baroque Works and setting course for Arabasta Island. The next season is expected to explore the Arabasta storyline, one of the original manga’s major arcs.
In the manga, the Straw Hats arrive in the kingdom of Arabasta to help Princess Vivi confront Baroque Works and its leader, Sir Crocodile. The arc includes the introduction of Bon Clay, the reunion between Luffy and his brother Portgas D. Ace, and the eventual defeat of Crocodile before Vivi chooses to remain in Arabasta while Nico Robin joins the crew.
The casting of Ace, Bon Clay, Miss Doublefinger and Mr. 1 lines up with that trajectory.
A More Serious Tone Ahead
Chandran discussed the second season’s direction in an interview with Teen Vogue.
“It is a very dramatic turn,” Chandran said. “I think it’s the most serious season so far, and you see a more mature side to both [Vivi and Luffy]. It still has all of the classic things of One Piece, but I think that you see Vivi and Luffy really discussing and engaging with very important, serious matters. Season two is so fun and joyful; it’s nice to see that contrast in season three. [There’s] a lot of allegories for what’s happening around the world in different places.”
The shift from Season 2’s lighter energy to something weightier tracks with the narrative arc manga fans will recognize. The Arabasta storyline carries high emotional stakes and political intrigue.
Series star Iñaki Godoy, who plays Luffy, also said the show’s action sequences will change. “There’s so much storytelling in fighting,” he said, referencing the fight between Luffy and Wapol in the Season 2 finale and teasing that upcoming battles will feel different in the next season. That suggests Season 3’s fight scenes will carry more narrative weight than pure spectacle.
A Long Road for the Adaptation
The live-action series is based on the manga and anime franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. According to What’s On Netflix, about 154 of the manga’s 1,174 chapters have been adapted so far.
That ratio puts the live-action series early in its journey through the source material. With more than 1,000 chapters still unadapted, the Straw Hats’ voyage could span many more seasons if the show maintains its audience and Netflix continues greenlighting new installments.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
