David Jonsson Cast as the New Black Panther in Marvel’s ‘Black Panther 3’

Marvel Studios has officially announced that British actor David Jonsson will take on the mantle of the next Black Panther in the highly anticipated Black Panther 3, portraying an adult T’Challa II; the son of the late King T’Challa, originally played by the late Chadwick Boseman. The announcement was made during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where director Ryan Coogler introduced Jonsson to an enthusiastic audience. The film is scheduled for release in December 2028.

Unlike a recasting of Boseman’s iconic character, Marvel is continuing the story introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the 2022 film, audiences learned that T’Challa and Nakia had a young son, Toussaint, whose Wakandan name is T’Challa. In the third instalment, Jonsson will portray the grown-up heir, who is set to inherit the Black Panther mantle and carry Wakanda’s legacy into a new era.

Director Ryan Coogler will return to write and direct the film, continuing the vision that made the first two Black Panther films global successes. Letitia Wright is set to reprise her role as Shuri, while Winston Duke will return as M’Baku. Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, whose involvement had previously been confirmed by Coogler, is also expected to join the cast in a yet-to-be-revealed role.

Jonsson’s casting marks another major milestone in the rising British actor’s career. The 32-year-old has earned widespread acclaim for his performances in Rye Lane, Industry, Alien: Romulus, and The Long Walk. He has also received significant industry recognition, including the BAFTA Rising Star Award, making him one of Britain’s fastest-rising screen talents.

The announcement was met with a standing ovation at Comic-Con, with fellow cast members warmly welcoming Jonsson into the Marvel family. Winston Duke said the cast would support him as he steps into one of modern cinema’s most iconic superhero roles, while Letitia Wright expressed excitement about working alongside him in the next chapter of Wakanda’s story.

Marvel’s decision preserves its long-standing commitment not to recast Chadwick Boseman’s original T’Challa following the actor’s death from colon cancer in 2020. Instead, the studio has chosen to honour Boseman’s legacy by allowing the story to continue through T’Challa’s son, creating a new generation of Black Panther while maintaining continuity within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The casting announcement has generated widespread excitement across social media, with many fans praising Jonsson’s selection and expressing optimism about the future of the franchise. Others have described the move as a respectful way to continue Boseman’s legacy without replacing his unforgettable portrayal of King T’Challa.

With Ryan Coogler once again at the helm and a new generation ready to defend Wakanda, Black Panther 3 is shaping up to be one of Marvel Studios’ biggest cinematic events, as audiences prepare to witness the rise of a new Black Panther while celebrating the enduring legacy of Chadwick Boseman.