Marvel Studios has found its next Black Panther. During the studio’s Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, director Ryan Coogler introduced David Jonsson as the actor who will portray the adult T’Challa II, son of the late King T’Challa, in Black Panther 3. The announcement answered months of speculation about who would inherit the mantle after Chadwick Boseman’s death altered the franchise’s future.
Jonsson arrives in Wakanda after a rapid rise in Hollywood. The British actor earned acclaim for HBO and BBC’s Industry before breaking through with the romantic comedy Rye Lane. His profile climbed further with Alien: Romulus, a performance that won him the BAFTA Rising Star Award and placed him among the industry’s most sought-after young actors.
Marvel’s approach to the Black Panther legacy changed after Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020. Rather than recast T’Challa for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Coogler and Marvel chose to honor the actor’s legacy within the story. Letitia Wright’s Shuri assumed the Black Panther mantle, while the film’s closing scene revealed T’Challa’s young son, Toussaint—also known as Prince T’Challa II. The third installment will pick up years later, with Jonsson portraying the grown-up heir as he steps into his father’s role. Wright returns alongside Winston Duke, while Coogler once again writes and directs. Denzel Washington is also set to join the cast in a role created specifically for him.
The Hall H reveal drew an enthusiastic response from fans, with Jonsson thanking the crowd for the warm welcome and acknowledging the responsibility that comes with carrying such an iconic Marvel role.
Black Panther 3 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 15, 2028.