Actor David Jonsson has been cast to star as Prince T’Challa II in “Black Panther 3,” scheduled for release on Dec. 15, 2028, according to Marvel’s Comic-Con Hall H panel announcements. The upcoming film, directed by Ryan Coogler, will follow T’Challa’s son as he comes of age after being introduced as a child in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Cast and Creative Team Returning for the Sequel
Director Ryan Coogler will return to helm the third installment of the franchise. According to the studio’s panel announcements, Letitia Wright will reprise her role as Shuri, and Winston Duke will return as M’Baku. Wright took over the mantle of Black Panther from the late Chadwick Boseman in the 2022 sequel, with Shuri becoming the eponymous superhero.
Boseman portrayed T’Challa in the first “Black Panther” film before dying of colon cancer at age 43 in 2020 while Coogler was working on the sequel. The character of T’Challa II was established in “Wakanda Forever” as the son of T’Challa and Nakia, portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o. Jonsson, who recently starred in “Alien Romulus” and the adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Long Walk,” steps into the franchise as Prince T’Challa II.
Franchise Timeline and Box Office Context
The first “Black Panther” movie, released in 2018, grossed $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office. That film starred Boseman, Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Forrest Whitaker, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, and Angela Bassett, earning seven Oscar nominations including best picture—the first superhero movie to do so—and winning three awards for costume design, production design, and original score.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” subsequently grossed $859 million worldwide upon its 2022 release, driving a $331 million post-pandemic opening weekend. The sequel secured five Oscar nominations, highlighted by Angela Bassett’s nomination for best supporting actress, which marked the first time any actor in a Marvel film received an Academy Award nomination.
Pro Tip: Marvel fans looking forward to the next chapter won’t have to wait until 2028 to see Letitia Wright reprise her role. According to casting announcements, Wright is part of the sprawling ensemble for “Avengers: Doomsday,” which hits theaters on Dec. 18.
Development Timeline and Production Status
Wright told Variety in January 2023 that she believed the third film in the franchise was “already in the works.”
“You know, we just had a terrific two years of bringing it out and everybody coming together to support it,” Wright said in the interview with Variety. “We need a little bit of a break, we need to regroup and Ryan needs to get back into the lab, so it’s going to take a little while, but we’re really excited for you guys to see that.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is playing the new Black Panther in Black Panther 3?
- David Jonsson has been cast as Prince T’Challa II, the son of T’Challa, in “Black Panther 3.”
- When is the release date for Black Panther 3?
- “Black Panther 3” is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 15, 2028, according to Marvel’s Comic-Con announcements.
- Who is directing Black Panther 3?
- Ryan Coogler returns to direct the third film in the franchise.
- Will Letitia Wright return as Shuri?
- Yes, Letitia Wright will reprise her role as Shuri, and Winston Duke will return as M’Baku.
Join the Conversation
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