During a particularly moving moment at San Diego Comic-Con, director Ryan Coogler revealed the actor who will take on the iconic role of Marvel’s Black Panther superhero.
Speaking to a crowd of fans at San Diego Convention Center’s Hall H on July 25,Coogler announced that actor David Jonssonwill take up the mantle, becoming the franchise’s new Black Panther.
The announcement comes almost six years after the death of Chadwick Boseman, the first to play the superhero in the franchise.
“The last time we were together, we got to make a movie. We introduced a character who was the son of a character that the great child and play our T’Challa in that film,” Coogler said of the 2022 film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”“Today, want to tell you guys in this next film, he grows up, he comes of age.”
Coogler explained that the team spent time searching for an “incredible actor” to fill the role.
“I want you guys to give a warm welcome to our new Black Panther, Mr. David Jonsson,”Coogler said, before the crowd erupted with excitement.
A clearly moved Jonsson, who’s best known for his work in 2025’s “The Long Walk,” also addressed the crowd, expressing his gratitude for the role.
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join,” he said. “Believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”
During the panel, Coogler was also confirmed as the director of “Black Panther 3.” And, along with actors Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri, and Winston Duke, who plays M’Baku, the group shared that the film is slated to hit theaters on December 15, 2028.
Jonsson will join the cast following years of Boseman’s critically acclaimed performances. Boseman made his first appearance as the character in 2016 film “Captain America: Civil War.”Roughly two years later, he became the lead in “Black Panther,” earning multiple awards and nominations for his stunning performance.
The film itself, Marvel’s first Black superhero movie, was seen as a major milestone that reflected the Black community’s cultural impacton cinema and beyond. Additionally it was a profound moment for Black representation in Hollywood.
Boseman died at 43 years oldafter a battle with colon cancer on August 28, 2020. The studio decided against recasting his role. Instead, the 2022 sequel revolved around the nation of Wakanda’s grief that followed their leader Black Panther’s own passing. It also served as a moving tribute to Boseman.
While the superhero’s sister Shuri takes up the mantle in the film, the sequel also introduces another successor at its conclusion— the son of T’Challa named Toussaint, who meaningfully shares the same Wakandan name as his father.
The Marvel presentation was a particularly eventful one. Along with the major “Black Panther 3” announcements, the studio revealed an upcoming “Ghost Rider” film starring Ryan Gosling. Marvel boss Kevin Feige also brought several stars from “Avengers: Doomsday,” which comes out in December, to the stage, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie and Simu Liu, to name a few.
