‘ONE PIECE’ LIVE ACTION SEASON 3 HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED FILMING — EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THE EPIC VOYAGE AHEAD

The world of live-action adaptations has seen many failures, a few surprises, and one standout masterpiece: Netflix’s One Piece. After the global success of Season 1 and growing anticipation around Season 2—set to premiere on March 10, 2026—fans have now been blessed with another massive update.
Season 3 of ONE PIECE Live Action has officially begun filming in South Africa, confirming that the adventure of the Straw Hat Pirates is far from over.

This article dives deep into production insights, story expectations, crew details, filming locations, new cast additions, adaptation strategy, and everything currently known about the next epic phase of Monkey D. Luffy’s journey.

🔥 A NEW ERA BEGINS: SEASON 3 PRODUCTION KICKS OFF IN SOUTH AFRICA

Filming for Season 3 has officially started at Cape Town, maintaining Netflix’s tradition of using the breathtaking South African landscapes and massive studio sets that helped bring East Blue and the early Grand Line arcs to life.

Why South Africa Again?

South Africa’s Cape Town Film Studios has been the backbone of the live-action adaptation since day one. It offers:

Larger-than-life water tanks for ship scenes
Flexible sets for island environments
A massive VFX support pipeline
Easier logistics for multi-arc productions
Continuity with previous seasons

The production team has returned with greater scale and ambition, suggesting that the story arcs adapted in Season 3 will involve even bigger islands, bigger battles, and bigger emotional payoffs.

📌 QUICK SUMMARY: EVERYTHING CONFIRMED SO FAR

Season 3 filming start: Confirmed in South Africa
Season 2 release date: March 10, 2026 on Netflix
Returning cast: Straw Hat crew intact
New cast additions: Cobra Kai alum + Cole Escola
Expected arcs: Drum Island + Alabasta Saga (detailed below)
Tone & theme: Darker, political, emotional, faster paced
Production scale: Larger than S1 & S2 combined

🌍 WHERE SEASON 3 FITS IN THE GRAND STORYLINE

To understand Season 3’s importance, we must look at where Seasons 1 and 2 left the story.

Season 1 covered:

Romance Dawn
Orange Town
Syrup Village
Baratie
Arlong Park
Loguetown tease

Season 2 is expected to cover:

Reverse Mountain
Whisky Peak
Little Garden
Drum Island tease
Possibly a major intro of Baroque Works
Blackbeard and Crocodile foreshadowing

Season 3 will likely adapt:

⬛ Drum Island Arc
⬛ Alabasta Arc (Major Saga)
⬛ Final confrontation with Crocodile
⬛ Vivi’s fate and emotional farewell
⬛ Chopper’s full introduction
⬛ Baroque Works leader reveal

This saga is considered one of the most beloved in One Piece history, making Season 3 potentially the most emotional phase of the live-action journey yet.

🎬 PRODUCTION INSIGHTS — WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

1. The Sets Are Bigger and More Ambitious

Insiders have hinted that the sets for:

Drum Castle
Alubarna
Rainbase
Nanohana

…are some of the largest practical builds ever created for a live-action anime adaptation.

2. Weather-Based Filming for Drum Island

Because Drum Island’s landscape is snowy, filming in winter conditions or using artificial snow setups has been reported. This suggests a high-budget approach, similar to the Arlong Park practical sets.

3. Action Sequences Are More Intense

Season 3 includes:

Desert battles
Rebellion uprising scenes
Crocodile vs Luffy
Zoro vs Mr. 1 sword battle
Sanji’s classic fight moments
Chopper’s debut transformation sequences

These scenes require advanced CGI and choreography teams—meaning more time, money, and planning.

🧭 THE STRAW HAT CREW — WHERE THEIR JOURNEY CONTINUES

By Season 3, the crew has grown emotionally and skill-wise. The live-action version must depict that growth faithfully.

Luffy — A Captain Becoming a Leader

Season 3 shows Luffy evolving from a fun adventurer to someone who:

Understands responsibility
Protects kingdoms
Makes major decisions
Builds alliances

His confrontation with Crocodile is a career-defining moment for his character.

Zoro — The Path to Becoming the World’s Strongest Swordsman

Season 3 will deepen:

His rivalry with Baroque Works
His battle with Mr. 1
His layered loyalty to Luffy
His internal struggle to maintain his vow to Kuina

Expect sword choreography close to movie-level quality.

Nami — From Navigator to Key Strategist

Nami’s connection with Vivi grows strong in Alabasta. Her role shifts from simply navigating seas to:

Guiding desert routes
Reading weather patterns
Planning infiltration tactics

Usopp — Fear to Bravery Arc

Season 3 is a major character development stage for Usopp:

His best comedic moments appear here
His emotional courage moments shine
Many Baroque Works encounters elevate his growth

Sanji — The Prince of the Desert

Sanji’s scenes are crucial:

He becomes a master infiltrator
He helps rescue the crew multiple times
His relationship with Chopper develops warmly

Chopper — The New Straw Hat

The most awaited debut.
Season 3 will finally introduce:

His tragedy
His bond with Dr. Hiriluk
His desire for belonging
His adorable moments + powerful forms

Chopper’s casting and CGI will play a major role in fan reception.

🧊 DRUM ISLAND ARC — HEARTBREAK, HOPE, AND A NEW NAKAMA

This arc is one of the emotional pillars of One Piece.
Season 3 is expected to portray:

❄️ The Snowy Kingdom

Drum Island gives a new tone to the live action—dark, cold, and heavy with political tension.

👑 Wapol: The Corrupt Tyrant

A villain blending comedy and cruelty, Wapol brings:

Absurdist humor
Political abuse
Tragic consequences for civilians

💔 Doctor Hiriluk — The Cherry Blossom Dream

One of the most heartbreaking stories in One Piece. Hiriluk’s legacy shapes:

Chopper's faith
His dream
His bond with Dr. Kureha

This will be a defining emotional moment for Season 3.

🏜️ ALABASTA ARC — A WAR, A PRINCESS, AND A HEROIC STOPOVER

The Alabasta Saga is massive, making it perfect for an entire season.

Key elements Season 3 will adapt:

Vivi’s undercover mission
Luffy vs Crocodile (3 fights!)
The rebellion vs royal army
Secret Baroque Works agents
Ancient history foreshadowing
Pluton references
Alubarna’s monumental battle

This arc sets up future seasons:

Arabasta introduces the first Warlord defeat
Creates a global ripple effect
Establishes the Straw Hats as a real threat to the World Government

This season marks a shift from adventure to global political conflict.

🎭 NEW CAST ADDITIONS — WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Cobra Kai Alum Joins the Crew

Although the specific role isn’t announced, fans speculate:

Could be Mr. 1?
Could be Pell?
Could be Chaka?
Could be a Baroque Works assassin?

Their martial arts background may indicate an action-heavy role.

Cole Escola Joins Season 3

Known for comedic timing and character versatility. Possible roles include:

Wapol
Mr. 3
Mr. 2 (Bon Clay)
A side character

Netflix may reveal more after Season 2 drops.

🔥 BAROQUE WORKS — THE SHADOW ORGANIZATION TAKING CENTER STAGE

Baroque Works is the first major antagonist organization in One Piece that extends beyond simple villains and enters a world of espionage, political manipulation, and large-scale warfare.

What Baroque Works Brings to Season 3

A mystery-driven storyline
Dozens of quirky yet dangerous agents
Secret identities
Code-named villains
Twists, betrayals, and multi-layered plotlines

Season 3 will likely introduce Baroque Works as the first major organization testing the Straw Hats on a global level, long before the Marines and World Government become active antagonists.

Key Members Expected to Appear

Mr. 0 (Crocodile) — Warlord of the Sea, mastermind
Miss All Sunday (Nico Robin) — mysterious partner
Mr. 1 (Daz Bones) — steel-body swordsman
Mr. 2 (Bon Clay) — iconic and emotional ally/enemy
Mr. 3 — candle wax manipulator
Miss Doublefinger — dangerous assassin
Koza — rebellion leader (not a member but central to story)

Each agent brings unique fighting styles perfect for live-action choreography.

🐊 CROCODILE — THE FIRST WARLORD SHOWDOWN

Season 3 will finally bring one of the most legendary villains in anime history to Netflix: Sir Crocodile, the first Warlord to fight Luffy.

Why Crocodile Is Critical

He is:

The first “impossible-to-beat” villain
An enemy with political power
A mastermind with long-term plans
A symbol of how small the Straw Hats still are

CGI & Sand-Sand Fruit Challenges

Crocodile’s powers require:

Particle physics simulations
High-quality sand transformation VFX
Weather-based CGI layers
Desert storm rendering

Netflix already proved they can handle water, rubber, and smoke CGI. Season 3 will test whether they can handle large-scale sand VFX battles.

Three Legendary Fights Expected

Luffy vs Crocodile Round 1 — Humiliating defeat
Luffy vs Crocodile Round 2 — Water clash
Luffy vs Crocodile Final Round — Most iconic finish of Alabasta

If adapted with accuracy, this season will deliver some of the best live-action fights ever produced for anime.

👑 PRINCESS VIVI — THE HEART OF SEASON 3

Vivi is the emotional center of the Alabasta Saga.

Season 3 will showcase:

Her undercover journey
Her friendship with the Straw Hats
Her moral struggle
Her desire to save her kingdom without war

Her bond with Nami, Luffy, and the entire crew brings a warm yet tragic layer to the story.

Key Scenes Fans Expect

Vivi’s introduction as "Miss Wednesday"
Vivi revealing her true identity
Vivi’s emotional speech at Alubarna
The Straw Hats’ goodbye scene (the iconic arm X-mark moment)

If Netflix nails this farewell scene, Season 3 could become a historic moment for all live-action anime adaptations.

🥼 CHOPPER — THE NEW CREWMATE OF THE SEASON

Chopper’s introduction changes the emotional tone of the series.

Challenges in Adapting Chopper

Must be cute, emotional, expressive
But still realistic enough for a live-action world
Requires hybrid CGI + practical effects

Netflix’s updated CGI pipeline (improved after Season 2) may finally make a perfect blend of mascot + realistic creature.

What Chopper Brings

Medical knowledge
Innocence and humor
Emotional power from Hiriluk’s backstory
Strong fight moments (especially in Alabasta)

Chopper is a fan-favorite character, so expectations are extremely high.

❄️ DRUM ISLAND — FULL STORY BREAKDOWN FOR LIVE ACTION

Season 3 will likely dedicate 2–3 episodes to Drum Island.

Expected Story Flow

Crew arrives in a snowy, hostile environment
Wapol introduced as a comedic-yet-cruel villain
Chopper’s early warnings
Kureha and medical kingdom lore
Hiriluk’s backstory (most emotional part)
Wapol’s confrontation
Chopper joins the crew

Tone of the Arc

Dark tragedy
Warm found-family emotion
Political cruelty
Inspirational themes ("You can be whatever you want to be")

This arc will define Season 3’s emotional weight.

🏜️ ALABASTA — FULL STORY BREAKDOWN FOR LIVE-ACTION ADAPTATION

The Alabasta Saga is HUGE. In anime:

62+ episodes
Multiple subplots
Large-scale war scenes

Netflix must condense it without losing depth.

Expected Structure

EP 1–3: Drum Island
EP 4–5: Enter Alabasta + meeting the rebellion
EP 6: Baroque Works major fights (Mr. 1, Mr. 2, Mr. 3)
EP 7: Luffy vs Crocodile (Round 1 & 2)
EP 8: Final war + Round 3 + Farewell to Vivi

This is the most likely pacing for Season 3 (8 episodes), similar to Seasons 1 & 2.

💥 ACTION SET PIECES FANS EXPECT

Top 5 Fights Must-Have

Zoro vs Mr. 1 — steel-body sword battle
Sanji vs Bon Clay — comedic + martial arts
Luffy vs Crocodile (final) — symbolic, emotional
Vivi vs rebellion tension — political drama
Chopper + Usopp vs Mr. 4 & Miss Merry Christmas — chaotic fun

These scenes combine emotion, comedy, choreography, and spectacle.

🎥 CGI & PRACTICAL EFFECTS — WHAT NETFLIX NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Season 3 requires:

Realistic sand CGI
Snow physics
Desert storms
Chopper’s full transformation
Bomb explosion visuals
Large-scale crowds
Animal CGI (camel, birds, desert wildlife)

A combination of:

Practical sets
On-location desert filming
VFX post-processing
…will define the visual identity of the season.

👥 CASTING SPECULATION — WHO MIGHT PLAY WHO?

Cobra Kai Alum

Fans speculate roles with a combat background:

Mr. 1 (Daz Bones) — most likely
Pell (desert guardian)
Chaka (royal guard)

Cole Escola

Could play:

Wapol (comedically perfect)
Mr. 3 (fits personality)
Bon Clay (also possible)

Netflix tends to announce new cast right after S2 releases, so more details will arrive after March 10, 2026.

📊 FUTURE ROADMAP — WHAT SEASON 3 SETS UP FOR SEASON 4

Season 3 marks the end of the Alabasta Saga, the first major milestone in One Piece.

Season 4 could adapt:

Jaya Arc
Skypiea Arc
Introduction of Blackbeard
Bellamy + the Sky Island buildup
Noland flashback
God Eneru confrontation

Season 3 is the turning point where the series shifts from small-scale adventures to mythology, ancient history, and world politics.

🏁 FINAL THOUGHTS — ONE PIECE LIVE ACTION IS ENTERING ITS GOLDEN AGE

Season 3 is shaping up to be:

Bigger
Darker
More emotional
More politically complex
More action-heavy

With filming officially underway in South Africa, fans can expect:

Massive battles
Huge character development
The first war in the series
The birth of Chopper
The defeat of a Warlord
The iconic farewell with Vivi

If executed well, Season 3 could become the defining season that secures One Piece as the greatest live-action anime adaptation ever made.

ONE PIECE Live Action Season 3 Begins Filming — Drum Island & Alabasta Saga Explained {Anime Lore Hub}