The Grand Line is expanding sooner than expected. Even as fans count down the days until the March 10 premiere of the second season, Netflix has confirmed that the live-action adaptation of One Piece has officially entered production for Season 3. Currently filming on location in Cape Town, South Africa, the production move underscores Netflix’s aggressive commitment to the franchise following its massive debut success. This early start suggests a strategic effort by the streaming giant to shorten the lengthy gaps between seasons, a challenge that previously saw a two-and-a-half-year hiatus between the first and second installments due to industry-wide labor disputes in 2023

The third season is slated to tackle the monumental Alabasta Arc, a cornerstone of Eiichiro Oda’s legendary manga and anime series. While Season 2 is expected to navigate the wintery landscapes of Drum Island, it will serve as the narrative springboard for the desert kingdom of Alabasta—a saga that involves a high-stakes mission to thwart a looming civil war and a direct confrontation with the formidable Mr. Crocodile. To bring this complex story to life, the production has secured a series of high-profile casting additions. Xolo Maridueña is confirmed to join the fray as the fan-favorite Portgas D. Ace, while Cole Escola will portray the flamboyant and pivotal Bon Clay. These additions join a returning ensemble that has become synonymous with the Straw Hat crew, including Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy and Emily Rudd as Nami, alongside recent heavyweights like Joe Manganiello as the villainous Mr. Crocodile and Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra

From an administrative and production standpoint, the decision to film in South Africa continues a successful partnership with Cape Town’s robust cinematic infrastructure, which previously provided the backdrops for the series’ iconic pirate vessels and intricate world-building. Industry analysts suggest that by overlapping the post-production of Season 2 with the principal photography of Season 3, Netflix aims to target a release window between mid-to-late 2027 or early 2028. This long-term planning is essential for a series of this magnitude, which requires extensive visual effects to render characters like Tony Tony Chopper—portrayed in the upcoming season by Mikaela Hoover—and the supernatural abilities of the "Devil Fruit" users

The significance of this rapid renewal cannot be overstated; it represents a rare vote of confidence in the notoriously difficult genre of live-action anime adaptations. By securing the cast for an Alabasta-focused third season, Netflix is signaling its intent to follow the source material’s most beloved chapters with fidelity and scale. As the production sails forward in Cape Town, the One Piece saga is no longer just a streaming hit, but a cornerstone of Netflix’s global content strategy, promising a journey that remains as vast and ambitious as the seas its characters traverse