David Jonsson to play T'Challa's son in 'Black Panther 3'; Marvel announces 2028 release at Comic-Con
Washington DC, July 26
Marvel Studios has announced that British actor David Jonsson will play the adult son of T'Challa in Black Panther 3, with the anticipated sequel set to release in theatres on December 15, 2028, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler made the announcement during the studio's Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, revealing that the film will be shot in 70mm.
Jonsson, who will take on the mantle of Black Panther in the sequel, expressed his gratitude after being introduced on stage, as fans erupted in cheers and Wakanda chants, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and privilege and the blessing to join," Jonsson said.
The actor will portray the grown-up son of T'Challa, the character made iconic by the late Chadwick Boseman. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) ended with the revelation that T'Challa had a young son with Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong'o. While Marvel has not disclosed how the child will appear as an adult in the new film, the sequel will arrive after next year's Avengers: Secret Wars, potentially setting up the character's evolution within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Jonsson has emerged as one of Hollywood's rising stars with performances in Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk and the first two seasons of the drama series Industry, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Black Panther franchise began with the 2018 blockbuster starring Boseman as King T'Challa alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett. The film earned USD 1.3 billion at the global box office and became the first superhero movie to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Boseman was expected to return for a sequel before his death in 2020 following a private battle with colon cancer. Marvel subsequently reworked the story, with Letitia Wright's Shuri assuming the mantle of Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Released in 2022, the sequel grossed more than USD 850 million worldwide and received five Academy Award nominations, winning one Oscar. Bassett also became the first actor to earn an Academy Award nomination for a performance in a Marvel film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Black Panther 3 announcement was among the biggest reveals at Marvel Studios' Comic-Con panel, which also featured Ryan Gosling taking the stage to confirm that he will star as Ghost Rider in a standalone Marvel film directed by Shawn Levy.
— ANI
Reader Comments
2028 is too far away! 😩 They should have wrapped up T'Challa's arc earlier. I'm worried this is just milking the franchise. But Ryan Coogler directing is a relief. The African vibes in Black Panther were unmatched – I still remember how proud I felt watching it in theatre. Let's hope they keep that cultural magic alive.
Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider? That's the real news here! 🔥 Black Panther 3 sounds interesting but six years from now? MCU is losing steam. They need to focus on quality over quantity. David Jonsson is a good pick but I wish they'd give more screen time to Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia – she was underused in the last film.
As someone who grew up watching Hrithik Roshan as Krrish, I never thought I'd see a superhero movie that celebrates African culture so beautifully. Black Panther was a masterpiece. But jumping from a child to an adult son in one movie feels rushed. I hope they don't mess up the timeline. Still, 70mm shooting sounds epic!
I have mixed feelings. Boseman was irreplaceable but I appreciate Marvel not recasting T'Challa and instead passing the mantle. Jonsson has the look – tall, regal, intense. But after Secret Wars, the MCU timeline will be a mess. Let's hope they handle the multiverse stuff carefully. Wakanda Forever was emotional but the plot was weak. Need a tighter story this time.
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