British actor David Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther, with director Ryan Coogler confirming the news during Marvel Studios’ presentation at Comic-Con International.
The 32-year-old, known for his performances in Industry, Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, will portray the grown-up son of the late T’Challa in the third instalment of the blockbuster franchise. Jonsson appeared on stage alongside Coogler and returning stars Letitia Wright and Winston Duke to make the announcement.
Speaking at the event, Coogler said the upcoming film would continue the story introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which revealed that T’Challa had a son. “In this next film, he grows up, he comes of age,” the Oscar-winning filmmaker said, referring to the character first introduced in the 2022 sequel following the death of Chadwick Boseman. Boseman, who played King T’Challa in the first Black Panther film, died in 2020 at the age of 43 after battling colon cancer.
Born in London, Jonsson began his acting career on the West End stage before making his television debut in Endeavour in 2018. He later gained recognition as Augustus “Gus” Sackey in HBO’s Industry and has since starred in Alien: Romulus and the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. Earlier this year, he received the BAFTA Rising Star Award and is also set to appear in the forthcoming films The Chaperones, Benn/Eubank and Scandalous. “Thank you to this family that I have the honour and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said. “I don’t want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking.”
Black Panther III is scheduled for release in US cinemas on 15 December 2028, with a UK release date yet to be announced. The original Black Panther, released in 2018, became a global phenomenon, winning three Academy Awards and earning widespread acclaim for its portrayal of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Coogler, who directed the first two films, has also expanded the franchise through projects including Ironheart and Eyes of Wakanda.
