The third season of One Piece on Netflix, subtitled The Battle of Alabasta, concluded its filming in South Africa in November 2026. The shoot utilized desert locations and large-scale sets to recreate the Arabian kingdom of the original arc. With new actors such as Cole Escola and Xolo Maridueña, the series promises to maintain the action pace that captivated the global audience.
Technical production: desert sets and practical effects for Alabasta 🎬
The production opted for a combination of physical sets in Cape Town and computer-generated visual effects. According to team sources, full-scale replicas of the royal palace and the streets of Alubarna were built. The use of animatronics for the giant desert animals, such as the bananawani, reduced reliance on CGI. Post-production includes color grading work to replicate the warm palette of the original manga.
The new recruits: from El Chavo to One Piece non-stop 🎭
Cole Escola will play a yet-to-be-revealed character, while Xolo Maridueña, famous for Blue Beetle, will take on a key role. The news has sparked debates on social media: some fans fear Maridueña will steal the spotlight with his karate moves, and others joke about Escola adapting his absurd humor to the seriousness of Alabasta. At least, no one argues that the South African desert will sweat more than an actor in a casting waiting room.