After years of anticipation, season 2 of Netflix’sOne Pieceis still a little way out. This is why it’s so surprising that, ahead of season 2’s 2026 premiere, Netflix has already confirmed the world-famous series is returning for a third season.
At theOne PieceDay celebration in Tokyo, Netflix shared a teaser for season 2 alongside confirmation thatOne Piece’slive-action adaptation will return for a third season. Showrunner Joe Tracz is being joined by Ian Stokes to share showrunning duties, and production is expected to begin in Cape Town later in the year.
This information comes after rumors swirled thatproduction onOne Pieceseason 3 was starting soonerthan fans expected. No other information is known at this time, but fans already have good reason to be hyped.
What Will One Piece Season 3 Cover?
While nothing is confirmed at this time, available information suggestsOne Pieceseason 2 will adapt most, if not all, of the Arabasta Saga. This is seemingly confirmed by the casting announcements for key characters introduced in this saga, such as Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, and Nefartari Vivi.
The Arabasta Saga lasted 117 chapters in the manga compared to the roughly 100 chapters adapted by the first season.
Given all this, it seems likely that season 3 of Netflix’sOne Piecewill cover the Sky Island Saga, which comes in at a slightly lower 85 chapters. The Sky Island Saga is an important one, as it introduces key characters like Blackbeard, Whitebeard, and Kuma, meaning season 3 could potentially introduce a handful of fan favorite heroes and villains.
How Netflix’s One Piece Broke the Live-Action Anime Curse
Though some fans might be surprised to hearOne Pieceseason 3 confirmed before season 2 even has a proper release date, many were more surprised to see just how solid Netflix’s live-action adaptation was.
Eiichiro Oda’s original manga is very cartoony in many ways, with an emphasis on exaggerated character designs and over-the-top action. This, coupled with Hollywood’s poor reputation in terms of adapting anime and manga, meant that many were actively dreading the newOne Pieceseries.
Despite the hesitancy of many, though,Netflix’sOne Piecedestroyed all expectations and became a juggernaut. Part of this is undeniably series creator Eiichiro Oda’s involvement, but part of it is also just a cast and crew that clearly have a passion and understanding of the source material.
Hopefully, the series can keep the goodwill going with the next two seasons. Fan reception toTony Tony Chopper’s live-action designhas mostly been positive, so all signs point toOne Pieceseasons 2 and 3 being another set of hits for the world’s biggest streaming platform.
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.
