ALABASTA IS REAL! LEAKED SET PHOTOS FROM ONE PIECE SEASON 3 ARE BREAKING THE INTERNET! 🏜️🔥

I am literally shaking! We just finished Season 2 and Netflix is already letting the sand out of the bag! 🏴‍☠️😱

The first leaked images from the Cape Town sets just dropped and the scale of Alubarna is ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE! But that’s not even the best part… we finally have a first look at Xolo Maridueña as Portgas D. Ace in full costume, and the “Fire Fist” vibe is perfection! ⚡🔥 Also, that shot of the Going Merry docked at Nanohana? The detail is insane!

Baroque Works is gathering, the rebellion is starting, and the desert heat is just beginning! You are NOT ready for the live-action “Sand-Sand Fruit” effects! 🐊⏳

See the SHOCKING leaked photos and the first look at ACE here:

The dust hasn’t even settled on the Season 2 premiere, but the Straw Hat Pirates are already making waves in the deep desert.

Less than two weeks after One Piece Season 2 took the world by storm on March 10, 2026, a series of high-resolution “leaks” from the show’s massive production hub in Cape Town, South Africa, have sent the internet into a total meltdown. The images, which began circulating on Reddit and X early Thursday, offer the first tangible proof that Season 3 will be Netflix’s most ambitious—and expensive—undertaking to date.

At the heart of the excitement is the first unofficial look at Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai) as the fan-favorite Portgas D. Ace, standing amidst the bustling markets of what appears to be the port city of Nanohana.

The $200 Million Desert Mirage

While Season 2 (which covered Loguetown through Drum Island) relied heavily on lush greenery and snow-capped peaks, Season 3 is pivoting to the “Sand-Sand” aesthetic of the Alabasta Arc. Industry insiders estimate that Netflix has bolstered the budget to a staggering $200 million for the 8-episode season to accommodate the sprawling desert warfare and complex CGI required for Sir Crocodile’s (Joe Manganiello) powers.

The leaked photos showcase a gargantuan practical set for Alubarna, the capital city of Alabasta. “They aren’t just using green screens,” a source close to the production told The Post. “They’ve built entire city blocks with intricate Middle Eastern-inspired architecture. It feels like a historical epic on the scale of Gladiator or Kingdom of Heaven.”

“Fire Fist” Ace: The Internet’s New Obsession

The casting of Xolo Maridueña as Luffy’s older brother, Ace, was already a win for fans, but the leaked image of him in his signature orange hat and shirtless “Fire Fist” ensemble has confirmed he’s the perfect fit.

On r/OnePieceLiveAction, fans are praising the costume department for its “gritty but accurate” translation of the manga’s iconic designs. “He looks like he walked straight out of Oda’s brain and onto the set,” wrote one top contributor. “The chemistry between him and Iñaki Godoy is going to be the emotional anchor of the season.”

The Crocodile Factor: Sand vs. Rubber

The leaks also provided a glimpse of Joe Manganiello as Sir Crocodile, appearing in a regal, fur-trimmed coat while standing on a balcony overlooking a dry, cracked valley. Following his brief but terrifying cameo in the Season 2 finale, Manganiello is set to be the primary antagonist of Season 3.

VFX analysts note that the production is utilizing a new “particle-simulation” technology specifically for Crocodile’s Sand-Sand Fruit abilities. “Sand is notoriously difficult to animate realistically,” says entertainment critic Marcus Thorne. “If they nail the feeling of the desert itself being a weapon, this will be the gold standard for anime adaptations.”

Vivi and the Rebellion: A Darker Turn

The Season 3 promo images also hint at a more mature, political tone. One shot features Charithra Chandran as Princess Vivi looking devastated in a war-torn refugee camp, suggesting that the show will lean heavily into the tragedy of the civil war orchestrated by Baroque Works.

With Lera Abova confirmed to return as the enigmatic Nico Robin (Miss All Sunday), the plot is expected to dive deep into the search for the ancient weapon Pluton—a storyline that connects directly to the “Void Century” lore teased in earlier seasons.

Production Timeline: When Can We Watch?

Filming in Cape Town is scheduled to wrap in June 2026. However, due to the massive post-production requirements for the Alabasta War’s climactic battles, fans shouldn’t expect a release until mid-to-late 2027.

“Netflix is playing the long game,” says Thorne. “They’ve shortened the gap between the first and second seasons, and now they are filming Season 3 while the hype for Season 2 is at its peak. It’s a masterclass in franchise management.”

As the leaked teaser tagline at the bottom of a production script reads: “In the desert, even the sun has a shadow.”

One Piece Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 is currently in production.