Marvel Studios has officially selected David Jonsson to become the new Black Panther in Ryan Coogler’s upcoming Black Panther 3.
According to Variety, the British actor will portray an adult version of Prince T’Challa, the son of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa and Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia. The character will inherit his father’s heroic mantle when the film arrives in theaters on December 15, 2028.
David Jonsson is your new Black Panther.
Black Panther 3, directed by Ryan Coogler, arrives in theaters December 15, 2028. pic.twitter.com/39FVl9fwbz
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 26, 2026
Jonsson joined Coogler onstage during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, who will return as Shuri and M’Baku, also participated in the announcement.
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege, the blessing to join,” Jonsson said. “Believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”
Who Is David Jonsson?
Jonsson is best known for playing Gus Sackey in the HBO drama Industry and Andy in Alien: Romulus. His more recent credits include The Long Walk and Wasteman. He also received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2025.
However, with relatively few major credits and no experience leading a blockbuster action franchise, reactions to his casting have been mixed. Many Marvel fans have nevertheless welcomed the decision, with some pointing to Jonsson’s resemblance to Boseman as one reason he appears well suited to play T’Challa’s son.
Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther in Black Panther – Disney+
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Black Panther 3 Will Follow T’Challa’s Son
Marvel introduced Prince T’Challa as a child during the closing moments of 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Nakia revealed that she and T’Challa had secretly raised a son in Haiti, away from the pressures of the Wakandan throne.
Although the boy went by the Haitian name Toussaint, he told Shuri that his Wakandan name was T’Challa, establishing him as the late king’s namesake and potential successor.
Black Panther 3 will reportedly follow the character as he comes of age. However, Marvel has not explained how Prince T’Challa reaches adulthood by the time the sequel begins.
Jonsson is in his early 30s. If the franchise followed real-world time progression, the character should still be an early adolescent. However, Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to reshape the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Black Panther 3 arrives, potentially allowing Coogler to advance Wakanda’s timeline.
What Happens to Shuri?
The decision also raises questions about Shuri’s future. She became the Black Panther in Wakanda Forever after recreating the heart-shaped herb and defeating Namor. Wright will return for the third movie, although it remains unclear whether Shuri will willingly pass the mantle to her nephew or share the title with him.
Shuri as Black Panther – Marvel Entertainment, YouTube
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Jonsson will not technically replace Boseman as the original T’Challa. Instead, Marvel is allowing the character’s legacy to continue through his son, sidestepping the contentious debate over whether the studio should recast Boseman’s role.
That said, Marvel may still receive pushback from certain corners of the internet over concerns that Shuri will be sidelined in favor of a male protagonist. Wright will reportedly continue carrying the Black Panther mantle in this year’s Avengers: Doomsday.
Ryan Coogler and Denzel Washington Join Black Panther 3
Coogler, who directed and co-wrote the first two Black Panther films, will return to direct the sequel. According to Complex, Marvel also announced that Black Panther 3 will be shot and exhibited in large-format 70mm.
Denzel Washington in the trailer for Gladiator 2 – YouTube, Paramount Pictures
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Denzel Washington has joined the cast in an undisclosed role written specifically for him. Coogler previously confirmed Washington’s involvement after the veteran actor unexpectedly revealed that he was preparing to appear in another Black Panther movie.
Additional story and casting details remain under wraps. However, Marvel has now made its long-term plans clear: Shuri may still be Wakanda’s protector, but Prince T’Challa will become the franchise’s next Black Panther.
What do you think of David Jonsson as the new Black Panther? Sound off and let us know!
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