Netflix may have just announced that One Piece Season 3 has not only been greenlit but is also set to begin production in Cape Town, South Africa, this year, and now, we have our Bon Clay.
With One Piece Season 2 set to debut in March 2026, we’re getting even more casting news, and this time, it’s for Bon Clay, the fan-favorite character also known as Kurei, who is also familiar to some fans. However, Netflix has requested that the press refer to the character as Bon Clay within the context of Season 3.
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Learn more about the characters in One Piece Season 2 here.
Who is cast as Bon Clay in the One Piece live-action?
Bon Clay in Netflix’s One Piece Season 3 will be played by non-binary actor Cole Escola. Netflix calls Bon Clay “a master of performance and precision” and said in a release to press that “Bon Clay is as dangerous as they are dazzling—a theatrical assassin who turns combat into art.” But let’s be real, that’s just part of why fans love Bon Clay.
Escola isn’t new to Netflix’s casting, they provided voice work for the streamer’s animated series Big Mouth. In addition to their work on that series, they’ve also appeared on At Home with Amy Sedaris, Search Party, and are most known for their work on Difficult People.
In addition to television, Cole Escolas is also a singer, comedian, and playwright. Their stage production Oh, Mary! celebrated its Broadway debut in 2024 and received two nominations for two Tony Awards for their work on the play, winning the Tony for Best Actor in a Play.
Who is Bon Clay?
Also known as Bentham of the Wild, Bon Clay is an okama and a former Baroque Works officer, which puts him in direct opposition to the Straw Hat crew – which we’ll see in One Piece Season 3. A major antagonist during the Arabasta Arc, and a central character in Miss Goldenweek’s “Operation: Meet Baroque Works.”
Bon Clay’s character arc in One Piece takes the character from antagonist to ally and one of the fandom’s most beloved characters, especially in terms of LGBTQ representation in the anime and manga.
Should I watch the live-action Netflix series?
Our answer is a resounding yes. Our critic called the series the best of 2023, saying:
“In essence, One Piece not only emerges as the pinnacle of anime adaptations and a top entertainment choice for the year but also unequivocally deserves the title of Show of the Year. The series’s exceptional ability to harmonize faithful storytelling, stellar casting, and high production values while boldly exploring uncharted creative territories sets it apart as a cultural phenomenon.
One Piece’s innovative narrative approach not only respects its source material but, more importantly, showcases that, with unwavering dedication and boundless creativity, storytelling has no limits across any medium.”
One Piece Season 3 is co-produced by co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers Joe Tracz & Ian Stokes, alongside the manga’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, and executive producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements through Tomorrow Studios. Additionally, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes, Christoph Schrewe, and Steven Maeda serve as Executive Producers.
One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta premieres in 2027, only on Netflix.
