Tony Award-winning actor Cole Escola, star of the Broadway hit Oh Mary!, has joined the cast of Netflix’s live-action One Piece for its third season. Escola will take on the series regular role of the fan-favorite character Bon Clay, also known as Mr. 2 Bon Kurei.
Bon Clay, envisioned as non-binary, is a theatrical assassin who blends performance with combat. Described as a master of precision, the character is known for a flamboyant, ballet-inspired style and begins as an antagonist before ultimately befriending the series protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, and his crew. The casting marks a significant addition as the series prepares to begin production for Season 3 later this year in Cape Town, South Africa.
Based on Eiichiro Oda’s iconic manga, One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the legendary treasure to become King of the Pirates. The main cast includes Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji.
Netflix granted the series an early third-season renewal, with the upcoming second season, titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, scheduled to premiere on March 10, 2026. Ian Stokes and Joe Tracz are set to serve as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers for Season 3. They join a production team that includes Oda, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes, Christoph Schrewe, and Steven Maeda as executive producers.
The first season of One Piece was a global phenomenon for Netflix upon its 2023 debut. It remained in the streaming service’s Global Top 10 for eight weeks, topped the charts in over 75 countries, and became one of its most-viewed series of all time. The show also received 11 nominations at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Young Teen Series.
Escola recently earned a Tony Award for Lead Actor for their performance in Oh Mary!, which they also wrote. Following an extended run on Broadway, the play is scheduled to transfer to London’s West End. Escola’s previous work includes writing for and recurring on At Home with Amy Sedaris, and they will next appear in the A24 comedy Jonty. Their other credits include roles in Fantasmas, Difficult People, and Search Party.
