Summary
Since its release in August 2023, Netflix’s live-actionOne Piecehas been revealing casting forOne Pieceseason 2bit by bit, and there is one rumor that I’m praying is true. Since becoming the most-watched show in 2023’s second half, all eyes are on the show, and it’s clear that this uniquely successful live-action adaptation of a beloved anime is bringing the story to a far wider audience. I’m relieved to say that I have faith in the show’s casting,based on its sound judgment so far, and I think season 2 will make an even bigger splash.
In an interview withCarlos Orozco, actor Mario Cortijo let slip that none other thanCobra Kai’sXolo Maridueña would be playing Ace inOne Piece. After realizing that this wasn’t public news, he redacted his statement. For the record, that statement was “Ace…who’s actually played by Xolo Maridueña…” He sounds pretty confident to me. After the success ofOne Pieceseason 1and big names already announced for season 2,I wouldn’t be surprised if this rumor was true.
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Xolo Maridueña Is The Perfect Ace For Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece
It Would Be The Best Casting Since Iñaki Godoy
Xolo Maridueña as Ace would be the best casting since Iñaki Godoy, “the real Luffy” himself, as manga creator Eiichiro Oda affectionately refers to him. If you haven’t been watching Netflix’s excellentCobra Kai, you may instead recognize Xolo Maridueña from the DC superhero movie,Blue Beetle. Maridueña’s role in both these creations leaves no room for doubt about Maridueña’s comic-book hero energy, and I, for one, would be fully invested inAce’sOne Piecefateif he was played by Maridueña.
One Pieceseason 2 may come out sometime in late 2025.
If theCobra Kaistar’sOne Piecerumor is true, that would place Xolo Maridueña acting opposite his real-life friend, Iñaki Godoy, portraying the in-universe surrogate brother to Godoy’s Monkey D. Luffy. As Luffy’s brother,Portgas D. Ace needs insane chemistry with Luffyto come off convincingly. While I’m sure many actors are up to the task,I now can’t imagine anyone other than Maridueña and Godoy taking on the Grand Linetogether.
The Biggest Obstacle To Xolo Maridueña’s Ace Casting Has Already Been Solved
Ace Is Maridueña’s Dream Role
In theLone Lobospodcast that he co-hosts,Maridueña addressed theOne Piecerumor, responding to the question of whether or not he was Ace “Not yet…but it’s a dream.” The main issue of this ideal casting - of Maridueña wanting to accept the role or not - has already been solved. So as far as I’m concerned,Netflix needs to hurry up its hiring process and confirm Maridueñaas Ace already. But listening to Maridueña’s comments on the rumor, the plot thickened:
Not yet. It’s a dream, but at the same time, it has to be right. I’ve got to audition for it. I’ve got to go the same route as everyone else. Unless they’re like, ‘Hey, this guy here is so perfect’.
I think I know Xolo Maridueña’s “tell” - that’s the thing people do when they’re lying, that always gives them away. I think Maridueña takes a sip of water, which he noticeably did on being asked if he was Ace, before implementing a poker face and pausing to consider his answer, shaking his head, and finally saying “not yet.” It’s only natural that Maridueña would be under an NDA to keep the casting under wraps until the official announcement, butit seems like he is at least auditioning.
Ace Likely Won’t Have A Major Role In One Piece Season 2
Ace Played A Small Part In The Arabasta Saga
Despite being important family to the show’s hero, Ace only had a small part in the anime and manga compared to characters like Luffy, Nami, and Zoro. He briefly appeared in the Drum Island arc but played a bigger role in the Arabasta saga, and it looks likeOne Pieceseason 2 episodeswill cover this ground. In short, it looks likeAce still needs to be cast forOne Pieceseason 2, even though he won’t become a main character. I am keen to watch as the show unfolds Ace’s arc, along with other key stories like Loguetown.
It does look likeOne Pieceseason 2 will open with the manga’s Loguetownarc, which doesn’t feature Ace. With aOne PieceLoguetown villain casting confirmedand the next episode’s title referencing Loguetown (“The Beginning and the End”), it seems like Ace may not appear until the last few episodes of season 2. However, owing to this arc’s middling popularity in the fandom, the show may run through it quite quickly. Plus, Maridueña has my vote for an amped-up Ace with more screentime than he got in the manga or anime.
One Pieceseason 2 is being filmedalready, and although it seems unlikely thatOne Piecewon’t have completed its casting before starting filming, this is often the case with smaller roles, especially where bigger actors are concerned. Scheduling clashes often result in late casting calls, which can happen during filming, andOne Piecehas shared casting details quite late before.Ace’s small role allows the show more flexibilityfor casting bigger actors like Xolo Maridueña, giving me more confidence that this dream casting rumor could be true.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
