Marvel Studios has officially announced British actor David Jonsson as the new Black Panther, ushering in a new era for the blockbuster franchise with the release of Black Panther 3 scheduled for December 15, 2028.
The announcement was made on Saturday during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con, where director Ryan Coogler confirmed his return to helm the third installment alongside returning cast members Letitia Wright, who reprises her role as Shuri, and Winston Duke as M’Baku.
Jonsson will portray the adult version of Prince T’Challa II, the son of the late King T’Challa, a character first introduced as a child in the closing scenes of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
Rather than recasting Chadwick Boseman’s original character, Marvel is continuing the story through his son, who is expected to inherit the Black Panther mantle.
Addressing thousands of fans after his surprise introduction, Jonsson described joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a privilege.
“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,” he said.
READ ALSO: Marvel Casts David Jonsson As New Black Panther, Sets 2028 Release Date
Born in London, England, David Jonsson has Nigerian, Sierra Leonean, Caribbean and Swedish heritage.
The 32-year-old actor first gained widespread recognition for his performance in the BBC and HBO drama series Industry before earning critical acclaim for his starring role in Rye Lane.
He later appeared in Alien: Romulus and the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, performances that established him as one of Britain’s fastest-rising actors.
Ryan Coogler, who directed the first two Black Panther films, returns after the commercial and critical success of Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
The franchise underwent a major narrative shift following the death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 from colon cancer, with Wright’s Shuri assuming the Black Panther mantle in the sequel instead of recasting T’Challa.
Marvel also confirmed that Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will appear in Black Panther 3 in a role reportedly written specifically for him by Coogler, although details of his character remain undisclosed.
The announcement formed part of Marvel Studios’ major Comic-Con presentation, which also unveiled Ryan Gosling as the MCU’s Ghost Rider and offered previews of upcoming films, including Avengers: Doomsday, as the studio seeks to usher in a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.