The future of Wakanda has arrived. During Marvel Studios’ flagship Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, director Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige officially announced Black Panther 3. Spearheading the third installment is rising British actor David Jonsson, who steps into the role of an adult Prince T’Challa II (also known by his Haitian name, Toussaint).
Set to hit theaters on December 15, 2028, the film marks a pivotal new chapter for the franchise as T’Challa’s son comes of age to carry forward his father’s legacy—and inherit the mantle of the Black Panther.
Audiences were first introduced to Prince T’Challa II in the mid-credits scene of 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Raised quietly in Haiti by his mother, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), away from the pressures and political strife of the Wakandan court, the young boy revealed his dual identity to his aunt Shuri (Letitia Wright).
Rather than recasting Chadwick Boseman following his tragic passing in 2020, Marvel chose to honor his memory by passing the crown to a new generation. Jonsson’s casting signals a significant narrative time-jump, picking up with Toussaint as a young adult poised to step into his lineage.
“The last time we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who was the son of the character that the great Chadwick Boseman played… In this next film, he grows up, comes of age, and we have to find an incredible actor.”
— Ryan Coogler, introducing Jonsson at Comic-Con
Taking the stage to applause, Jonsson expressed immense gratitude for joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege, the blessing to join… Believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”
Jonsson has rapidly established himself as one of Hollywood’s most compelling talents. After a breakout performance in HBO’s financial drama Industry, he turned heads in the sci-fi horror hit Alien: Romulus and Stephen King’s feature adaptation The Long Walk. His landing of the Black Panther mantle represents one of the most high-profile casting decisions in recent MCU history.
While official plot specifics remain locked in Marvel’s vaults, several key details surrounding production have been confirmed:
| Feature | Details |
| Director & Writer | Ryan Coogler |
| Release Date | December 15, 2028 |
| Confirmed Cast | David Jonsson (T’Challa II), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Denzel Washington |
| Cinematography | Shot on 70mm large-format film |
Coogler’s decision to shoot on 70mm large-format celluloid promises an expansive, immersive cinematic presentation built for IMAX screens. Additionally, legendary actor Denzel Washington is confirmed to appear in a role penned specifically for him by Coogler.
As production prepares to get underway, Black Panther 3 stands as one of the most anticipated entries in Marvel’s upcoming slate—promising a moving story centered on family, duty, and the enduring spirit of Wakanda.
