Netflix’s live-action One Piece continues to expand its star-studded cast, with Tony Award winner Cole Escola joining the series as the beloved and flamboyant character Bon Clay (Mr. 2) in Season 3.
The casting was confirmed by Deadline, which revealed that Escola—best known for their self-written Broadway hit Oh Mary!—will portray the larger-than-life Bon Clay in the upcoming season. Escola made their on-screen debut on Law & Order (Season 20, Episode 4, “Reality Bites”) and has also appeared in acclaimed comedy series such as Search Party and At Home with Amy Sedaris.
Bon Clay, a character introduced in Chapter 129 of the One Piece manga and Episode 78 of the anime, is known for their unmatched charisma, fierce loyalty, and fluid gender expression. Deadline also confirmed that Netflix’s version of the character is “envisioned as non-binary,” maintaining the authenticity of Eiichiro Oda’s original depiction. Escola, who identifies as non-binary, has been praised by fans for being a fitting and respectful choice for the role.
The One Piece live-action adaptation has already earned praise for faithfully representing its diverse and eccentric cast of characters. Escola’s addition to the ensemble is seen as another step in preserving that spirit.
Meanwhile, anticipation is high for One Piece Season 2, officially set to premiere on March 10, 2026. Titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, the new season will follow Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they embark on perilous new adventures across the legendary Grand Line.
According to Netflix’s synopsis, the Straw Hats will face “fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet” as they encounter iconic manga arcs such as Drum Island and Little Garden. Fan-favorite characters including Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, and Crocodile are set to make their live-action debuts.
Co-showrunner Joe Tracz recently shared that Season 2 will challenge each Straw Hat’s dream in unique ways:
> “At the end of the first season, our characters made this pledge around a barrel to achieve their dreams, and in Season 2, we put those dreams to the test,” Tracz explained. “Every island we visit in the Grand Line is going to challenge one of the Straw Hats in a unique way, and they’ll learn that to fulfill their dreams, they have to rely on each other.”
With Escola’s casting as Bon Clay and Season 2’s release on the horizon, Netflix’s One Piece continues to prove that it’s not just a reimagining—but a celebration—of Oda’s legendary world.
