Netflix Chooses Ideal Performer for Mr. 2 in the Hit Series Third Season

Baroque Works is set to make a major impact in Netflix’s upcoming season of One Piece, though the real showdown won’t unfold until the next season, and a cherished, fan-favorite member has recently been selected.

Netflix announced this week that Cole Escola will appear in the One Piece season 3 cast and will portray Bentham. This character has the ability to transform into an exact copy of any person they’ve made contact with with their right hand. Escola, who is gender non-conforming and uses they/them pronouns, will portray a version of that character reinterpreted as non-binary, instead of as a drag queen, in the real-life adaptation, unlike the original manga and anime.

Escola joins multiple new cast members who will portray Baroque Works to the screen, such as head Mr. 0, played by Joe Manganiello, a talented actress as Miss Goldenweek, and an accomplished actor, who is also part of the lineup as the ruler of the fictional land.

Although this character is a major member of the group, the persona won’t appear until One Piece season 3. Considering the second season set to cover the Little Garden segment, this marks a significant shift in the timing of the character’s debut, one that could signal further changes to the narrative framework.

Their mix of precise humor and profound feeling makes them a standout choice for the role. Besides their latest vocal work in the animated coming-of-age film Boys Go to Jupiter, they earned widespread acclaim and multiple awards for writing and starring in the popular theatrical show Oh Mary!, highlighting the versatility they’ll contribute to one of One Piece’s most celebrated characters.

The platform’s adapted One Piece show is due to premiere for its next installment on March 10th, 2026.