Xolo Maridueña is playing Ace in One Piece Season 3.
That’s the news. That’s the gut punch. Because if you know, you know—and if you don’t, you’re about to find out why this casting announcement is carrying more emotional weight than any other character Netflix has revealed for the adaptation so far.
Maridueña—who you’ve seen flip between charming underdog and morally tangled antihero in Cobra Kai and suit up as Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle—is stepping into the role of Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s beloved older brother and one of the most beloved, heartbreaking, and narratively essential characters in One Piece history. Not a Straw Hat. Not even around for that long in the grand scheme of things. But ask any fan to name the character that destroyed them, and Ace is in the top three, guaranteed.
The casting leaked through the usual channels—trades, fan accounts, Netflix’s own hype machine—but the reaction was instant. Because Ace isn’t just a cool character with fire powers (though he absolutely is that). He’s a emotional landmine buried in the middle of the story, and everyone watching Season 3 is going to step directly on it.
Why Ace Matters (Beyond the Obvious)
Here’s what makes Ace different from every other character introduced so far: he’s not part of the crew, but his presence shapes everything. He’s Luffy’s brother—adoptive, messy, complicated—but the bond is real, and it’s one of the few relationships in the show that isn’t built around adventure or combat. It’s just… love. Unconditional, dorky, self-sacrificial love.
Ace is also a member of Whitebeard’s crew, which immediately positions him as a major player in the world’s power structure. He’s got the Flame-Flame Fruit, meaning he can conjure and control fire at will—visually, that’s going to be a nightmare to pull off in live-action, but if Netflix has proven anything with Season 1’s Devil Fruit effects, it’s that they’re willing to throw money at the problem until it looks right.
But more than the powers, more than the crew affiliations, Ace carries the Will of D. And if you’re deep in One Piece lore, you know that’s not just a name—it’s a curse, a legacy, a mystery that won’t unravel for literal years of story. Ace’s bloodline is tangled up with some of the most significant figures in the series, and even though Season 3 won’t fully expose that, the weight of it has to be present in the performance.
Maridueña has to carry all of that—plus the fact that Ace is equal parts reckless fighter and deeply insecure older brother who masks his self-doubt with bravado. It’s a tightrope walk between cool and emotionally raw, and the fact that Netflix chose someone who’s already proven he can do both is… honestly, kind of perfect.
What We’re Getting in Season 3 (and Maybe Season 2’s Finale)
Season 2 drops March 10, 2026, and there’s a solid chance we get a brief Ace tease in the finale. In the manga and anime, Ace leaves a message for Luffy at Drum Island, telling him to meet in Nanohana. It’s a small moment, but it sets up the Alabasta arc—which is where Baroque Works, Crocodile, and the real political stakes of One Piece kick in.
Season 3 will likely cover Alabasta in full, which means Ace will have a more substantial role. He’s not the main character of that arc, but his scenes with Luffy are some of the most human moments in the entire saga. They eat together. They bicker. Ace picks up Luffy’s bar tab and then dips, leaving the Straw Hats to deal with it. It’s sibling energy in its purest form, and it’s going to hit different in live-action because Netflix has been so good at grounding the emotional beats.
There’s also the question of whether they’ll include Ace’s sillier traits—falling asleep mid-conversation, getting sidetracked, being kind of a disaster despite being objectively powerful. The anime leaned into that hard, and it’s part of what made him so endearing. If Maridueña can balance “effortlessly cool fire-wielding pirate” with “guy who falls asleep in his soup,” that’s the sweet spot.
The Pressure Is Unreal
Here’s the thing about casting Ace: everyone has an opinion. Fan casts have been circulating for years, and no matter who Netflix chose, someone was going to be mad. But Maridueña feels like a choice that actually gets it. He’s young enough to sell the brotherly dynamic with Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy. He’s got the physicality for the fight scenes. And—this matters—he’s already survived the internet’s scrutiny once with Blue Beetle, a film that had way more riding on it culturally than it was ever going to be able to deliver.
Ace is also a character who demands presence without overshadowing the main cast. He’s a guest star in his own right, but the story isn’t about him until suddenly it is, and by then it’s too late to prepare yourself emotionally. That’s a hard needle to thread, and Maridueña’s going to have to do it while also handling whatever VFX chaos Netflix throws at him for the fire effects.
The fanbase is cautiously optimistic, which in One Piece circles is basically a standing ovation. No one’s pretending this is going to be easy. But if Season 1 proved anything, it’s that Netflix is taking this seriously—and hiring someone who already understands what it’s like to carry a beloved character into live-action is a smart move.
Why This Casting Feels Different
Most of the Season 3 announcements have been about villains—Crocodile, Bon Clay, the Baroque Works crew. All essential, all exciting. But Ace is the first major ally outside the Straw Hats to be cast, and that shifts the emotional register of the whole season. Because Alabasta isn’t just about stopping a coup or fighting a Warlord. It’s about trust, betrayal, and the people you meet along the way who change your life even if they’re only around for a minute.
Ace is one of those people for Luffy. And for the audience, he’s about to become one of those characters you don’t realize you’re attached to until the story rips him away.
Netflix hasn’t announced a release window for Season 3 yet, but with Season 2 landing in March 2026, it’s probably safe to assume we’re looking at late 2027 or early 2028. That’s a long wait. But if they’re building toward the arcs that come after Alabasta—Skypiea, Water 7, Enies Lobby, and eventually that arc—then Ace’s introduction here is the first domino.
And Maridueña’s the one who has to make sure it falls right.
What You Need to Know About Ace’s Role in One Piece
He’s Luffy’s Brother, But It’s Complicated
Ace and Luffy aren’t blood-related, but they were raised together and share a bond that’s one of the most genuine in the series. Their relationship is dorky, protective, and heartbreaking in equal measure.
The Flame-Flame Fruit Is Going to Look Insane
Ace’s Devil Fruit power lets him control fire, which means Netflix’s VFX team is about to earn every cent of their budget. If they nail it, it’ll be one of the most visually striking powers in the show.
He’s a Member of Whitebeard’s Crew
That positions him as a serious threat to the World Government and connects him to some of the most powerful pirates in the world. He’s not just Luffy’s brother—he’s a player.
His Backstory Is a Slow-Burn Reveal
Even in Season 3, we won’t get the full picture of who Ace really is or where he comes from. But the hints will be there, and they’ll matter later in ways that’ll wreck you.
Maridueña Has the Range for It
From Cobra Kai to Blue Beetle, he’s already proven he can do action, vulnerability, and cultural weight. Ace needs all three.
FAQ
Is Xolo Maridueña a good fit for Ace’s personality?
On paper, yeah—he’s got the charisma and the physicality, and he’s already shown he can play characters who are confident on the surface but emotionally complicated underneath. That’s Ace in a nutshell. The question is whether Netflix lets him be goofy and devastating.
Will Ace appear in One Piece Season 2?
Possibly in the finale as a tease. In the source material, Ace leaves a message for Luffy at Drum Island, which would be a natural place to introduce him briefly before his bigger role in Season 3’s Alabasta arc.
Why is Ace such a big deal to One Piece fans?
Because he’s one of the few characters in the series whose emotional arc is entirely self-contained but still manages to reshape the entire story. He’s not around for long, but the impact is permanent. Fans know what’s coming, and that’s why this casting feels so high-stakes.
How will Netflix handle Ace’s fire powers in live-action?
If Season 1’s Devil Fruit effects are any indication, they’ll throw a ridiculous amount of money at it until it looks right. Luffy’s stretching worked better than anyone expected, so there’s hope. But fire is tricky—it has to feel dangerous and dynamic, not like a Snapchat filter.
Does this mean Netflix is already planning arcs beyond Season 3?
Probably. Ace’s introduction sets up storylines that won’t pay off for years, which suggests Netflix is betting on One Piece having a long runway. If they’re casting him now, they’re thinking about Marineford, and that’s several seasons away.
