Lucas Amorim, a Brazilian cosplayer, dedicated years campaigning to land the role of Ace in Netflix’s One Piece live-action series. After not being selected, he expressed his disappointment and anger on social media when Netflix chose actor Xolo Mariduena for the role.
He put in tremendous effort to win the part, launching the hashtag #LucasForAce, training his physique to match Ace’s, learning Japanese, practicing fire tricks, and even filming numerous audition clips. He shared, “For 20 months, I learned how to control fire, studied martial arts, trained my body…” Yet none of it led to a role.
Lucas’s long-held dream shattered after Netflix’s announcement. While this seemed sad, public sympathy wasn’t fully on his side. Some fans felt the outcome was fair, despite his strong resemblance to Ace.
Lucas Blames Netflix for Favoritism
In a previous video, Lucas explained he did nearly everything possible to get the role and even inspired people worldwide with his dream. However, despite all his efforts, he never got a chance to audition for Ace.
He voiced frustration about how the industry (likely Netflix) blocks Brazilians and Latin Americans from big opportunities, though he clarified he wasn’t targeting any specific actor. He wanted to highlight how difficult it is for ambitious actors outside Hollywood to get such chances.
Still, it’s unclear how much truth there is to this. Netflix is known for recruiting top talent, and most fans seem satisfied with Xolo Mariduena as Ace, even while acknowledging Lucas’s passion for the role.
Cosplay vs. Professional Acting
While cosplay excels at authentically recreating beloved fictional characters, it shouldn’t be confused with professional acting. These are two very different crafts. Acting demands specialized training, emotional depth, and expressive skills. Many fans have pointed this out during the recent debate.
Sometimes cosplayers are overly confident, believing they’re perfect for live-action versions of their favorite characters. But the truth is there’s a clear line between looking like a character and having acting ability.
Striking poses and recreating iconic moments through photos or videos is fun, but it doesn’t equal real acting. Acting is a far more complex skill.
So, what do you think? Should professional cosplayers get equal chances for lead roles, or is this work best reserved for trained actors?
One Piece live-action season 2 is scheduled to premiere on March 10, 2026.