Cole Escola, the mastermind behind Broadway smash Oh, Mary!, has lined up their next role, playing a non-binary assassin in the Netflix megahit One Piece.
The streaming giant announced on Monday (3 November) that Cole Escola, who identifies as non-binary, would be playing Baroque Works agent Bon Clay in season three of the show.
Escola is the first new name to be added to One Piece’s season three roster, which is unsurprising given the title has yet to release its sophomore season.
One Piece season two, dubbed One Piece: Into the Grand Line, is set to be released on Netflix on 10 March 2026, with season three yet to begin filming. Season three is expected to begin production in Cape Town, South Africa before the year is out.
Bon Clay is described by One Piece fans as having a “flamboyant attitude” and a penchant for singing, dancing and spinning, but with some fierce powers too. They are “meticulous” with “incredible superhuman physical prowess” and “extremely high levels of agility”. And, of course, they’re ever in their fabulous swan getup.
One Piece is a live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s adored manga series, which is the best selling manga and volume-based comic series in history. Following its 2023 adaptation, the Netflix series hit number one on the streamers’ most-watched chart in 43 countries.
In its first week, the show was watched by more than 18.5 million viewers, later becoming the most-watched show to debut in the second half of 2023. It won two accolades at the 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards.
In the comics, Bon Clay is noted for starting off as a dangerous villain before becoming pals with the show’s leading protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy (played in the series by Iñaki Godoy).
Season two of the series will see our straw-hatted pirate sailing the sea through a host of titillating new locations, including Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island.
Luffy will be up against “fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet,” according to Netflix’s synopsis.
“Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line — a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies,” it reads.
Prior to joining One Piece, Cole Escola gained notoriety for making LGBTQ+ history at the Tony Awards in June.
Escola became the first non-binary performer to win the Tony for Best Actor in a Play, for their role in Oh, Mary! which they wrote as well as starred in. The show was also nominated for the Best Play accolade at the ceremony.
Since bagging their historic Tony nom, Escola has been announced to star in Melissa McCarthy’s festive comedy Margie Claus, as well as in upcoming A24 comedy Jonty, alongside Bugonia star Jesse Plemons.
One Piece is streaming now on Netflix.
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