Netflix has announced the first major casting for One Piece Season 3, and it’s a spectacular choice that promises to bring one of the series’ most beloved characters to vivid life. Tony Award-winning actor Cole Escola has been cast as Bon Clay (also known as Bentham or Mr. 2 Bon Kurei), a key member of the infamous Baroque Works organization and one of the Straw Hats’ most memorable antagonists-turned-allies. The announcement, made on November 3, 2025, confirms that the live-action adaptation is moving forward with casting for the highly anticipated third season, which will explore the Alabasta Saga—arguably the most consequential arc in the early One Piece narrative. With production scheduled to resume in Cape Town, South Africa later this year, Cole Escola’s casting signals that showrunners Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes are committed to bringing the theatrical, flamboyant energy that defines Bon Clay’s character while maintaining the actor’s signature commitment to nuanced, authentic performance.
Breaking News: Cole Escola Joins One Piece Season 3 as Bon Clay
Casting Announcement Date: November 3, 2025 | Character: Bon Clay (Mr. 2 Bon Kurei/Bentham) | Actor: Cole Escola | Character Description: “A master of performance and precision, Bon Clay is as dangerous as they are dazzling — a theatrical assassin who turns combat into art” | Production Start: Later 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa
Netflix has officially announced the first major casting for One Piece Season 3, and the choice is nothing short of inspired. Cole Escola, the Tony Award-winning creator and star of the Broadway phenomenon Oh, Mary!, has been cast as Bon Clay, one of the Baroque Works organization’s most iconic and multifaceted members. The casting marks a significant step in the live-action adaptation’s expansion, signaling how the showrunners are approaching characters with theatrical flair and emotional depth. Bon Clay represents one of the most beloved character arcs in the source material—beginning as a formidable antagonist but ultimately transforming into one of Luffy’s most cherished and loyal allies.
Cole Escola: Award-Winning Performer and Perfect Casting
Age: (Details not publicly confirmed) | Famous For: Tony Award-winning performance in Oh, Mary! | Television Credits: Big Mouth, Nurse Jackie, Difficult People, Mozart in the Jungle, Girlboss, Man Seeking Woman, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Search Party, The Girls on the Bus, The Simpsons, Teenage Euthanasia
Cole Escola brings extraordinary credentials to the role of Bon Clay. Escola’s 2024 Broadway production Oh, Mary!—which Escola created and starred in—was a comedic exploration of Mary Todd Lincoln’s relationship with President Abraham Lincoln in the days leading up to his assassination. The production earned widespread critical acclaim, with Escola winning the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and the production itself reaching Pulitzer Prize finalist status for Drama. This recognition places Escola among Broadway and television’s most respected performers.
Beyond Broadway, Escola has built a diverse television career spanning comedy, drama, and animation. From appearances on acclaimed shows like Search Party and Difficult People to voice work on The Simpsons and Big Mouth, Escola demonstrates remarkable range. Most significantly for the Bon Clay role, Escola is non-binary and goes by they/them pronouns—a meaningful casting choice that aligns with the live-action adaptation’s decision to envision Bon Clay as non-binary, mirroring the character’s theatrical, boundary-defying nature.
The One Piece Live-Action Series: Overview and Success
Streaming Platform: Netflix | Season 1 Release: 2023 | Development: Matt Owens and Steven Maeda | Production Companies: Tomorrow Studios (ITV Studios associate), Netflix, Shueisha | Executive Producer: Eiichiro Oda (Original Manga Creator)
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s legendary manga One Piece premiered in 2023 and has become one of the streaming platform’s most successful series adaptations. Developed by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, the series translates the sprawling pirate narrative into live-action with remarkable fidelity to the source material while adapting it for the medium’s unique requirements. The show tracks the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they sail the Grand Line in search of the world’s greatest treasure: the One Piece.
The fact that Netflix granted an early renewal for Season 3—announced in August 2025, before Season 2 even premiered—demonstrates the network’s confidence in the franchise and its commitment to bringing Oda’s complete vision to life. This is a testament to the quality of execution, casting choices, and faithfulness to the source material that Season 1 established.
Main Cast of One Piece Live-Action Series
Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy — The protagonist leading the Straw Hat crew on their epic pirate adventure
Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro — The swordmaster and loyal crew member with dreams of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman
Emily Rudd as Nami — The skilled navigator and cartographer of the crew
Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp — The sharpshooter and storyteller with aspirations of becoming a brave warrior
Taz Skylar as Sanji — The crew’s cook with a passion for culinary arts and chivalry
Season 2 and 3 Additions: Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 (Crocodile), Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday, Charitha Chandran as Miss Wednesday
Showrunner Changes and Creative Leadership
Original Developer: Matt Owens and Steven Maeda (Seasons 1-2) | Season 2 Co-Showrunner: Joe Tracz (joined alongside Matt Owens) | Season 3 Co-Showrunners: Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes (Ian Stokes previously co-executive producer on Season 1)
Matt Owens departed the project in March 2025 after serving as executive producer and co-showrunner through Seasons 1 and 2. Joe Tracz stepped in as co-showrunner for Season 2 and continues in that capacity for Season 3, now joined by Ian Stokes, who returns to the franchise after serving as co-executive producer on Season 1. This creative continuity ensures that the thematic and stylistic elements established in the first season remain central to the ongoing adaptation.
Season 2 and Season 3 Release Information
Season 2 Title: One Piece: Into the Grand Line | Season 2 Netflix Release Date: March 10, 2026 | Season 2 Story Coverage: Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, Drum Island arcs
Season 3 Story Coverage: Alabasta Saga (primary focus) | Season 3 Production Location: Cape Town, South Africa | Season 3 Production Timeline: Filming to begin later in 2025 | Season 3 Release Date: TBA (Expected 2027)
Season 2’s official synopsis promises “more formidable foes and the most dangerous adventures yet,” as Luffy and the Straw Hats navigate the Grand Line—described as “a mythical sea route filled with both peril and marvel at every turn.” The introduction of the Baroque Works organization in Season 2 sets the stage for Season 3’s Alabasta Saga, where Bon Clay will play a pivotal role. This arc is widely considered one of the manga’s most compelling, establishing the series’ larger political complexity and deepening character relationships.
Bon Clay: Character Overview and Significance
In the original manga and anime, Bon Clay is one of the Baroque Works’ most memorable operatives—Mr. 2 Bon Kurei, also known as Bentham. The character is renowned for extraordinary combat techniques influenced by classical ballet, specifically the swan. Bon Clay’s appearance is deliberately flamboyant, featuring vibrant colors, theatrical makeup, and a distinctive aesthetic that initially reads as purely aesthetic but masks genuine danger and strategic intelligence. What makes Bon Clay exceptional is the character’s emotional arc: beginning as a genuine antagonist, Bon Clay undergoes one of the series’ most compelling transformations, eventually becoming one of Luffy’s most loyal and selfless allies—willing to sacrifice everything for friendship.
Cole Escola’s casting perfectly captures this duality. The actor’s experience with theatrical performance, combined with their ability to deliver genuine emotional depth (as demonstrated in Oh, Mary! and dramatic television roles), makes Escola ideal for portraying Bon Clay’s transformation from opponent to beloved friend. The decision to envision Bon Clay as non-binary also aligns with the character’s boundary-defying nature and challenges conventional gender presentation in ways that feel authentic to the source material.
Where to Watch One Piece Live-Action Series
Streaming Platform: Netflix (Exclusive) | Season 1 Status: Currently available | Season 2 Available: March 10, 2026 | Global Availability: Available worldwide to Netflix subscribers
The complete first season of Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation is currently available for streaming on Netflix globally. The series is accessible on all Netflix subscription tiers, allowing viewers to enjoy Luffy’s initial adventures at their own pace. Season 2 will premiere exclusively on Netflix on March 10, 2026, continuing the Straw Hats’ journey through the dangerous waters of the Grand Line. While Season 3’s release date remains unconfirmed, production beginning later in 2025 suggests availability sometime in 2027 or beyond.
Final Verdict: Perfect Casting for the Alabasta Saga
Cole Escola’s casting as Bon Clay represents exactly the kind of thoughtful, inspired choice that has made the live-action One Piece adaptation successful. By selecting an actor known for theatrical excellence, emotional authenticity, and willingness to embrace unconventional characters, the showrunners have demonstrated their commitment to honoring the source material while translating it into a live-action medium. Bon Clay is one of the pivotal characters in the Alabasta Saga, and having an actor of Escola’s caliber take on the role ensures that the character’s complexity—part entertainer, part warrior, part eventual ally—will resonate powerfully with audiences.
As Netflix continues rolling out casting announcements for Season 3, this first reveal has set an exceptionally high bar for what fans should expect. The combination of source material fidelity, thoughtful casting, and creative vision makes One Piece one of streaming’s most exciting adaptations.
