Marvel Studios officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con that David Jonsson will portray Prince T'Challa II, the son of the late King T'Challa and Nakia. Jonsson will take on the lead role in the next installment of the franchise, Black Panther 3, which is set to be released in theaters on 15 December 2028.
Ryan Coogler returns to write and direct the upcoming film, joined on the Hall H stage by Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri, and Winston Duke, who portrays M'Baku. Coogler confirmed that M'Baku has matured since Wakanda Forever, stating, 'In this next film, he grows up, comes of age, and we had to find an incredible actor.'
This moment is particularly significant for a franchise still grappling with the loss of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. Fans are eager for answers regarding the new character: who is David Jonsson?
Where You've Seen David Jonsson Before
Jonsson trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and made a name for himself on stage, winning an Evening Standard Theatre Award for his performance in And Breathe... at the Almeida Theatre. He brought that same gravitas to the BBC's Murder Is Easy, where he played Fitzwilliam in an Agatha Christie ensemble.
His real breakthrough came with HBO's Industry, playing financier Gus Sackey. Then came Rye Lane, where his chemistry with Vivian Oparah drove the film's charm.
The role that likely sealed his casting, though, is Alien: Romulus. Playing Andy, a glitching synthetic torn between two versions of himself, Jonsson delivered the dual-natured work of a prince trying to balance his father's legacy with his own identity. He followed it with The Long Walk, Stephen King's gruelling survival story, proving his range extends well beyond charm.
It is not hard to see the throughline Coogler spotted. This is a director with a history of turning young talent into stars, from Michael B. Jordan's breakout in Fruitvale Station to Winston Duke's rise through Black Panther, and Jonsson looks like his next find.
The MCU Timeline Question
Casting a grown actor as a character introduced as a young boy in Wakanda Forever raises an obvious question: how big a time jump is Black Panther 3 planning?
It's unclear whether this will result in a broader shift across the MCU timeline or just a leap forward within Wakanda itself. Marvel has not provided any specific details on this.
There is an ongoing, quieter discussion online about whether a new Black Panther film undermines Shuri's character development or if Ryan Coogler is instead positioning her as a mentor to T'Challa II, supporting him in the same way that Wakanda once guided her.
Letitia Wright has previously hinted that the film has been in development for years; however, the team needed time to regroup after the emotional impact of Wakanda Forever.
What is certain is that Jonsson's casting is no accident. It is the product of years spent quietly proving his range, from West End stages to spaceship corridors, and now Wakanda is entrusting its crown to an actor who has earned it throughout his entire career.
