Netflix is going all-in on One Piece Season 3, which will adapt the fan-favorite Alabasta storyline, and the scale of the production is becoming clearer. During a panel at Middle East Film & Comic Con 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Charithra Chandran, who plays Princess Vivi, revealed that the production brought in approximately 160,000 pounds of sand, or around 72 metric tonnes, to create the desert environment required for Alabasta.
Chandran shared the details while discussing the upcoming season alongside John Cena, Pom Klementieff, and Joonas Suotamo on September 12. Her comment offers an early indication of how extensively Netflix is building the world of Alabasta rather than relying entirely on digital environments.
One Piece Season 3 Brings Alabasta to Life
The upcoming season is officially titled ONE PIECE: The Battle of Alabasta and is set to premiere in 2027. Netflix has confirmed that production took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and filming has now wrapped. The season follows Luffy and the Straw Hat crew as they attempt to help Vivi save her homeland from a rebellion that threatens to push the desert kingdom into civil war.
Chandran, whose character was introduced during Season 2 as Miss Wednesday, will have a substantially larger role as the story moves into Vivi’s homeland. The upcoming storyline will also introduce major characters including Sir Crocodile, Mr. 0, Miss All Sunday, King Cobra, Koza, Pell and Chaka, expanding the live-action adaptation into one of the most important arcs from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga.
The scale of the sets appears to match the importance of the storyline. Asked what she could reveal about Season 3 at MEFCC, Chandran said,
“160,000 pounds of sand… now, I say Alabasta?”
Her response provided a striking production detail while also making clear that the desert setting required substantial physical preparation.
Netflix’s official behind-the-scenes material has previously highlighted the importance of practical world-building in its live-action adaptation. The production has filmed in South Africa since the show’s first season, with Cape Town serving as a major production base for the Straw Hats’ adventures.
Charithra Chandran Says One Piece Season 3 Was Demanding
Chandran also discussed the intensity of working on the new season, describing the production as extremely demanding. She explained that everyone involved was heavily invested in making the adaptation as strong as possible, emphasizing how much coordination is required before even a single scene reaches the screen.
That collaborative approach is particularly important for a production as effects-heavy as One Piece. Sets, costumes, visual effects, stunt work, lighting and practical construction all need to work together to recreate Oda’s distinctive world. Netflix’s production team has continued expanding the show’s cast and locations as the story moves toward Alabasta.
The season has already completed filming, meaning fans will not have to wait for production to begin. Netflix has confirmed that One Piece Season 3 will premiere sometime in 2027, although a specific release date has not yet been announced.
With 72 tonnes of sand reportedly used to create its desert environments, The Battle of Alabasta is shaping up to be an ambitious expansion of Netflix’s live-action One Piece universe.
| Started | October 22, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
