Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai, Blue Beetle) has officially been cast as Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s fiery older brother and commander of the 2nd division of the Whitebeard Pirates, in the third season of Netflix’s global hit One Piece. He is one of the most loved and important characters in Eiichiro Oda’s manga and anime series. Netflix said that filming for Season 3 will start up again later this year in Cape Town, South Africa.

The announcement came out this morning on the streamer’s official social media accounts, along with a 15-second teaser: Maridueña, who is shirtless on a deck in the sun, snaps his fingers and a ring of orange flame appears around the famous “A S C E” tattoo on his forearm. The caption says, “Fire Fist incoming.” “Season 3.”

Fans have been guessing for a long time who would play the flame-wielding pirate. Maridueña’s martial arts background and charming screen presence make him a great choice for the hot-headed but very loyal Ace.

In Season 3, the main storylines from the Marineford Arc will likely be adapted. In this arc, Ace’s fate changes the course of the Straw Hat crew’s journey. The return to Cape Town is part of the show’s ongoing world-building, which has been a big part of previous seasons. Netflix is also focusing on practical sets and big action scenes.

Season 2, ONE PIECE: INTO THE GRAND LINE, premieres March 10, 2026, only on Netflix.

No premiere date has been set for Season 3, but with production gearing up, One Piece fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the Fire Fist in action.