Ryan Coogler Introduces New ‘Black Panther’ Star at San Diego Comic-Con

The face of the new Black Panther has been revealed. Actor David Jonsson will star as the titular superhero in the upcoming Black Panther 3, the next installment in the hit Marvel franchise. Director Ryan Coogler introduced Jonsson during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, July 25.

The 32-year-old British actor is playing the son of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. T’Challa  was portrayed in 2018s Black Panther by the late Chadwick Boseman, who died after a private 4-year battle with colorectal cancer in 2020.

“I want you to give a warm welcome to our new Black Panther: Mr David Jonsson,” said Coogler as he introduced the actor, to cheers from the audience.

“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join,” said Jonsson, who appeared onstage alongside Coogler and established franchise stars Letitia Wright and Winston Duke; as well as Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige. “I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine. Thank you.”

Jonsson first gained attention as Gus Sackey on HBO’s hit show Industry before his breakout performance in the 2023 romantic-comedy Rye Lane. He also starred in 2024s Alien: Romulus and the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s thriller The Long Walk. He won the Bafta Rising Star Award that same year. 

At the end of the 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, T’Challa’s former love interest, the Wakandan spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), reveals to Wright’s Suri that she has a son called Toussaint but whose birth name is T’Challa. The revelation sparked rampant fan speculation about the next film and whether the young Toussaint/T’Challa was set to become the new Black Panther. 

Black Panther 3 is set to be released in theaters in December 2028.

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