Marvel confirms David Jonsson as new Black Panther in Black Panther 3
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Marvel Studios used its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con to confirm that Black Panther 3 has entered production, with David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk) cast as the son of T'Challa, who takes up the mantle of a new Black Panther alongside Shuri. This settles months of speculation about the franchise's future following the death of Chadwick Boseman, and forms part of a wider slate of announcements from the studio covering upcoming films across the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Black Panther 3 is scheduled for release on 15 December 2028, though plot details beyond the new lead character remain undisclosed. Elsewhere at the panel, Ryan Gosling was confirmed as Ghost Rider for a 2028 film directed by Shawn Levy, and Avengers: Endgame will return to cinemas on 25 September as "Endgame Encore" with bonus footage and an exclusive preview of Avengers: Doomsday. Hayley Atwell was confirmed to reprise Peggy Carter in Doomsday, Ryan Reynolds appeared in a grey X-Force Deadpool costume without confirmation of his role in the film, and exclusive convention footage reportedly revealed a strong connection between the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, accompanied by a new poster.
- David Jonsson cast as new Black Panther, son of T'Challa, in Black Panther 3
- Black Panther 3 confirmed for production, released 15 December 2028
- Panel also revealed Ghost Rider film, Doomsday footage and Endgame rerelease
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Marvel Cinematic Universe films have been building towards a series of major crossover events, with Avengers: Doomsday and a new Fantastic Four story both currently in the works alongside further solo instalments for established characters. Black Panther follows T'Challa, the king of the fictional African nation Wakanda and its armed protector; after actor Chadwick Boseman's death in 2020, the 2022 sequel passed the mantle to his sister Shuri rather than recasting the role.
Casting news and footage previews are often revealed at Comic-Con, a large entertainment convention held annually in San Diego, where studios use a dedicated hall to update fans on forthcoming projects. Marvel Studios is the company behind these films, which are produced under Walt Disney's ownership and released in a shared continuity known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
David Jonsson is a British actor who has appeared in the film Alien: Romulus and the drama The Long Walk. His casting matters because it signals the direction of the Black Panther series going forward, introducing a new central character connected to T'Challa's family as the wider franchise continues to expand its roster of heroes.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The character of Black Panther and Wakanda represent narratives of genuine cultural and storytelling significance that transcend any single performer. Whilst Chadwick Boseman's portrayal was extraordinary and irreplaceable as a performance, the character and universe retain enduring artistic value. Continuing with T'Challa's son assuming the mantle provides narrative continuity and honours Boseman's legacy by ensuring the world he helped establish remains vital and continues inspiring audiences. The MCU has historically evolved its characters across generations, and retiring the role would diminish rather than celebrate Boseman's contribution.
The case against
Chadwick Boseman's performance became so profoundly bound to the role of T'Challa that recasting inevitably courts painful comparison and risks diminishing his singular artistic achievement. True respect for his memory lies in accepting that the character's story is complete as written, rather than demanding audiences accept a replacement performance. Wakanda's narrative can meaningfully evolve through characters like Shuri and others without necessitating a new T'Challa, and continuing primarily reflects commercial considerations rather than genuine reverence. Sometimes the most dignified tribute is recognising that certain legacies should remain intact and unreplaced.
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Originally published by Polygon as “Marvel Studios Hall H panel: All the news, trailers, and reveals”.