Six years after the world said goodbye to Chadwick Boseman, Marvel has found the next man to wear the vibranium suit. At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, director Ryan Coogler confirmed that British actor David Jonsson will play T’Challa’s grown son and will take up the mantle as the new Black Panther in Black Panther 3.
The announcement, made during Marvel’s Hall H panel on Saturday, July 25, ends years of speculation about who would inherit the legacy and signals a new chapter for Wakanda.
A New T’Challa Rises
Coogler took the stage alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to reveal that Black Panther 3 is officially in production for a December 15, 2028 release.
The film will follow T’Challa II, the son of the late King T’Challa and Nakia, as he comes of age. The character was first teased at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever when it was revealed Nakia had been secretly raising their child, named Toussaint in Wakandan tradition.
“Last time we were together, we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who was the son of the character that the late Chadwick Boseman played,” Coogler told the crowd. “And today, I want to tell you guys that in this next film, he grows up. He comes of age. And we had to find an incredible actor”.
That actor is David Jonsson, 32. Known for Industry, Alien : Romulus and The Long Walk, Jonsson walked out to Wakanda chants and thanked Coogler, Feige and the cast. “Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and privilege and blessing to join,” he said. “I don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking, but believe me, the honour is entirely mine”.
Passing The Mantle With Respect
The casting comes with enormous weight. Boseman, who defined T’Challa across four MCU films, died in August 2020 at age 43 after a private battle with colon cancer. Coogler rewrote Wakanda Forever to center on Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, who became Black Panther in the 2022 sequel.
Now the story comes full circle. Wright, who joined Coogler and Jonsson on stage, said she’s “overjoyed to welcome David into the family business.” She teased her role in the new film: “She now has that mantle to pass on, and that guidance and the wisdom. I’m going to have a really, really good time, and I’m going to pick on him so much”.
Winston Duke is also confirmed to return as M’Baku, with Duke noting “Chadwick’s legacy is always in the room” but that he’s energized about “this opportunity for something new and something great”.
What We Know About Black Panther 3
Marvel kept plot details under wraps, but the focus is clear: a coming-of-age story for Prince T’Challa II. Jonsson’s casting suggests Wakanda will explore legacy, leadership, and what it means to live up to a name.
The film also adds Oscar winner Denzel Washington to the cast. Washington first revealed in 2024 that Coogler was writing a part for him, and Coogler later confirmed it on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast in June 2025.
Coogler, who directed the 2018 original and Wakanda Forever, returns as director and co-writer. Feige confirmed the third film was in the works back in December 2024.
Who Is David Jonsson?
Jonsson is a rising British star from East London who started in West End theater before breaking out on TV’s Industry. He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award last year and recently appeared in Alien: Romulus.
At Comic-Con, he struck a humble tone, choosing not to give away story beats. Fans responded with immediate support, with many calling his casting a respectful way to continue Boseman’s legacy while giving Wakanda a new future.
Why This Moment Matters
The Black Panther franchise has always been bigger than one film. The 2018 movie became a cultural milestone, and Wakanda Forever proved the world could mourn Boseman while still believing in Wakanda.
Now, Black Panther 3 has to do both: honor the past and build what’s next. By choosing Jonsson as an adult T’Challa, Marvel avoids recasting Boseman directly and instead follows the path the comics and the last film set up, a son stepping into his father’s shoes.
With a 2028 release date, a returning director, and a cast that blends legacy stars and new talent, Wakanda’s story is far from over. As Jonsson put it on stage, the honor is his. For millions of fans, the honor is watching the kingdom continue.
Black Panther 3 hits theaters December 15, 2028.
