The British actor David Jonsson has been announced as the new Black Panther by director Ryan Coogler at Comic-Con International. This development holds significance as it continues the legacy of the franchise following the death of Chadwick Boseman, who originally portrayed T’Challa.
Jonsson, aged 32, will embody the role of T’Challa’s son in the forthcoming third instalment of the series. Coogler, who gained acclaim for his recent Oscar-winning screenplay for the film Sinners, emphasised the continuity of the storyline: “The last time we made a movie, we introduced a character who is the son of the great Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. Today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up, he comes of age.”
Born in London, Jonsson’s career began on the West End stage. He first appeared on screen in 2018 in the British detective series Endeavour before gaining recognition as Augustus “Gus” Sackey in the HBO drama Industry from 2020 to 2022. He also starred in a 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk and received the BAFTA Rising Star Award that same year. Jonsson expressed gratitude for joining the franchise, stating he prefers to let the screen convey his performance.
Scheduled for release on 15 December 2028, Black Panther III will follow the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which revealed T’Challa’s son and centred on Shuri becoming the main protagonist after T’Challa’s death. Boseman passed away in 2020 at the age of 43 due to colon cancer, marking a pivotal moment in the series’ history.
As news unfolds, fans and critics alike look forward to how Coogler will integrate Jonsson’s character into this cherished narrative.
