Xolo Maridueña is rumored to be in the One Piece Live-Action series, as he’ll be the perfect fit to play Portgas D. Ace in this new season!

The wait is almost over for the One Piece fans! The long-awaited Season 2 of its Netflix live-action series might just be closer than you expect, and the speculations about its new casts joining the Straw Hat crew are also rife.

And, perhaps one of the most anticipated casting choices for this brand-new season would have to be choosing the perfect individual of Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s adopted brother, and in fact, a fan favorite! It’d be a crucial decision to make, as Season 2 would most likely have major story arcs revolving around Ace.

A still from One Piece Live-Action Season 2 trailer | Credits: Netflix

However, to everyone’s surprise, rumors are there that Xolo Maridueña might play Ace in this new season, and his recent involvement in the anime series Sakamoto Days has only added fuel to this firing debate. But what exactly makes him the ideal candidate to bring Ace’s personality and tragic story to life?

What makes Maridueña so perfect for Portgas D. Ace?

Xolo Maridueña from Cobra Kai | Credits: Counterbalance Entertainment, Netflix

It’s been months now, that fans have been rallying behind and wishing for Xolo Maridueña to play the iconic role of Ace in One Piece Live-Action Season 2.

Because of his previous experience in action-packed projects like Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle, many fans believe Maridueña has already proven himself to be more than capable of handling the physical demands of portraying Fire Fist Ace.

In fact, these rumors about Maridueña’s potential involvement in One Piece Live-Action season 2 recently gained this much attention after a certain podcast. The podcast (OUKE) hinted that he is set for the role. Although neither Netflix nor the show’s producers have confirmed any of it yet, fans remain optimistic that Maridueña will bring Ace to life on screen.

Maridueña’s newly announced involvement in Sakamoto Days drew more attention

Sakamoto and Asakura from Sakamoto Days | Credits: TMS Entertainment

Quite surprisingly, Netflix has already revealed the English voice cast for the upcoming highly anticipated anime series Sakamoto Days, even ahead of its release on Japanese TVs. This unexpected reveal got fans even more excited as they can now have an initial look at the roster of talented voice actors involved with all the iconic characters from the series.

And, of the very impressive cast, one name that stands out in particular is Xolo Maridueña, who will be voicing Heisuke. Funny enough, the involvement of Maridueña in this latest project has created a huge buzz, which also hints at his rising profile in the anime medium.

In fact, the timing of this announcement couldn’t be more perfect, as the speculations over Maridueña’s possible participation in the One Piece Live-Action series are going strong. He himself has neither confirmed nor denied these rumors, so one can hope.

Although these are still speculations flying around, several such above-mentioned reasons add credibility to the rumors. His growing connection with the anime world makes it very likely that he might be playing Ace on the big screen.

One Piece Live-Action Season 2 will be released exclusively on Netflix and Sakamoto Days is soon coming on Netflix as well.