David Jonsson cast as new Black Panther in third film; Ryan Coogler announces December 15, 2028 release at Comic-Con

The announcement

At Marvel Studios' San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday, director Ryan Coogler, fresh off an Oscar win for Sinners earlier this year, confirmed that Black Panther III will arrive in theatres on 15 December 2028. The biggest reveal was the casting of British actor David Jonsson as T'Challa II, the son of Chadwick Boseman's original Black Panther, who first appeared in a mid-credits scene of Wakanda Forever (2022). Coogler described the film as a coming-of-age story for the young prince, who will take up the mantle of his father.

The last time we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who is the son of the character that the great Chadwick Boseman played - our T'Challa - in that film. And today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up, he comes of age.

Coogler presented alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and co-stars Letitia Wright and Winston Duke were confirmed to return as Shuri and M'Baku.

David Jonsson's path to Wakanda

Jonsson, 32, was born in London and started his career on the West End stage. He made his screen debut in 2018 in the detective series Endeavour, then broke out as Augustus "Gus" Sackey in the first two seasons of HBO's Industry. His film credits grew rapidly: the lead opposite Vivian Oparah in Rye Lane (2023), a lead in Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus (2024), and a central performance in Francis Lawrence's 2025 adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk, which Coogler specifically cited during the Comic-Con introduction. In 2025 he also won the Bafta rising star award.

On stage, Jonsson kept his remarks measured:

Thank you to this family that I have the honour and the blessing to join. I don't want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking.

He has several additional projects in the pipeline, including The Chaperones, Benn/Eubank and Scandalous.

Castmates welcome the new star

Winston Duke, who plays M'Baku and whose first film role was in the original Black Panther, spoke to Deadline and Variety after the panel. He said he had spoken with Jonsson that morning and wanted to offer the same supportive environment he experienced.

I wanted to extend to him the grace that was extended to me. Black Panther was my very first film, and I was invited to create something really cool with a lot of grace, with a lot of safety.

Duke declined to offer advice, saying simply: "Come play." He added that he trusts Jonsson as an artist and the creative team. Denzel Washington, whose casting had been announced earlier, will also appear. Duke is simultaneously preparing for Avengers: Doomsday, whose trailer drew 503 million views in its first 24 hours after Monday's release, a Disney record.

A franchise built on legacy

The Black Panther series has been shaped by the loss of Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43. His portrayal of T'Challa anchored the 2018 original, which earned $1.3bn at the global box office and won three Oscars out of seven nominations. Wakanda Forever (2022) carried the grief of his death into the story, introducing T'Challa's son Toussaint, also named T'Challa II, in a final scene with Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia; Rihanna's "Lift Me Up" played as the credits rolled. That sequel grossed $859m and won the Oscar for costume design. The third film is positioned as the conclusion of the trilogy and as a passing of the torch.