Netflix confirms One Piece season 3 has officially started production in South Africa as original cast members return, new stars join, and several actors are promoted to series regulars ahead of the season 2 premiere in March 2026.
Netflix has officially announced that production is now underway on Season 3 of its global live-action hit One Piece, with the Straw Hats returning to Cape Town, South Africa to begin filming. The news arrives ahead of the highly anticipated Season 2 premiere, coming March 10, 2026.
The returning core cast — Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji) — are once again back at sea as the next chapter of the adventure begins. They’re joined by Charithra Chandran (Miss Wednesday), Mikaela Hoover (Chopper), Joe Manganiello (Mr. 0), Lera Abova (Miss All Sunday) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Nefartari Cobra), all reprising their roles.
In a major update for fans, Hoover, Manganiello, Abova, and Ramamurthy have been promoted to series regulars for Season 3, signaling expanded storylines for their characters in the next leg of the Grand Line journey.
Season 3 also brings new faces aboard, including previously announced cast members Cole Escola as Bon Clay and Xolo Maridueña as Portgas D. Ace. Additional cast announcements will be revealed at a later date.
Season 2, titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, is set for release on March 10, 2026, continuing the live-action reimagining of Eiichiro Oda’s beloved universe. The show remains a collaboration between Shueisha, Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner), and Netflix.
Behind the scenes, Season 3 will be led by co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes. Season 2’s creative team includes co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers Matt Owens and Joe Tracz. Additional executive producers on the franchise include Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes, Christoph Schrewe, and Steven Maeda.
Netflix’s live-action One Piece has become a global phenomenon since its 2023 debut. Based on the highest-selling manga series in Japanese history — with more than 500 million copies sold worldwide — the adaptation quickly dominated worldwide charts. The series spent eight weeks on the Global Top 10, reached #1 in over 75 countries, and became the first Netflix English-language title to premiere at #1 in Japan. Nearing 100 million views, it remains one of the platform’s most-streamed and most-downloaded shows to date.
The success extends beyond the screen, with a growing roster of One Piece merchandise, collectibles, and an immersive experience coming to Netflix House. The series was also honored with 11 Children’s & Family Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Young Teen Series.
As anticipation builds for Season 2, Netflix has already set sail on Season 3 — ensuring the Straw Hats’ adventure continues to expand around the world.
