Phil Roberts 
Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 3 casts David Jonsson as T’Challa, with the film confirmed for a December 2028 release.
Wakanda Forever! We’ve known for some time that Ryan Coogler was returning to Wakanda for Black Panther 3. However, at SDCC, Kevin Feige blew the roof off Hall H by revealing a release date for the film. With the eyes of the world watching, Feige confirmed that the long-awaited threequel will be released on December 15, 2028. But if that isn’t enough to have you booking a return trip to Wakanda, David Jonsson was announced as T’Challa.
No, the character isn’t getting a reboot. Jonsson will be bringing the now-grown son of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa to life. Audiences were first introduced to the character in the closing moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where he was revealed as Toussaint before adopting his late father’s name to honor his extraordinary legacy. For Black Panther 3, however, Marvel Studios is making a significant leap forward in time, fast-tracking T’Challa II into adulthood and positioning him as the rightful heir to Wakanda’s throne.
THE COOGLER EFFECT
Taking to the stage, Ryan Coogler arrived to reveal more about his vision for the threequel. The writer/director explained the characters aging up, saying, “In this next film, he grows up, comes of age, and we had to find an incredible actor.”
Joining Coogler, Jonsson added, “I want to say thank you so much. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you, Kevin. Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege of blessing to join. I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let this screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine. Thank you.”
SHURI ENOUGH, SHE’S BACK!
Of course, Letitia Wright’s Shuri is our current Black Panther, and she will be wearing the famous armor for Avengers: Doomsday. But with Jonsson now cast as the fully grown T’Challa II and announced as Marvel’s new Black Panther, it raises questions about the fate of Shuri after Black Panther 3. Could she become a mentor to T’Challa as he finds his place in the Wakandan hierarchy? Or will tragedy strike, forcing T’Challa to take on the mantle?
Those are just some of the tantalizing questions hanging over the next chapter of Wakanda’s legacy. And with Denzel Washington also making his long-awaited MCU debut, the next chapter of Wakanda’s story has all the ingredients to become something truly special.
Black Panther 3 will be shot in 70mm and will return us to Wakanda on December 15, 2028.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
