Marvel Studios revealed “Black Panther 3” at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday. Director Ryan Coogler is coming back, and David Jonsson will take on the role of T’Challa’s adult son in the next part of the hit series.
Coogler confirmed that Jonsson will play T’Challa II, the son of the late King T’Challa. The character first appeared as a child in the post-credits scene of 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
“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,” Coogler told fans. “And today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up, he comes of age.”
Jonsson received a standing ovation when he walked on stage. “I want to say thank you so much,” he said. “Thank you Ryan, thank you Kevin, thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join. I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”
Jonsson is best known for playing Gus Sackey in HBO’s “Industry” and for his part in the 2023 romantic comedy “Rye Lane.”
Coogler also announced that “Black Panther 3” will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie shot completely on large-format film.
Oscar winner Denzel Washington, who was announced earlier, will also join the cast. Letitia Wright and Winston Duke joined Coogler, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, and Jonsson on stage at Comic-Con.
Coogler launched the “Black Panther” franchise in 2018 with Chadwick Boseman starring as King T’Challa. The film became a global hit, earning more than $1.3 billion and winning three Academy Awards. Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020.
Marvel Studios and Coogler honored his legacy in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” by centering the story on T’Challa’s death. The sequel, led by Letitia Wright as Shuri, grossed about $859 million worldwide and won an Academy Award for costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who became the first Black woman to win two Oscars.
The movie is set to premiere in theaters on December 15, 2028.
