David Jonsson has officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the new Black Panther, taking on the role of Prince T'Challa II in Black Panther 3.
The highly anticipated sequel, set for release on December 15, 2028, will follow the coming-of-age journey of T'Challa's son.
Director Ryan Coogler returns to helm the film alongside returning stars Letitia Wright as Shuri and Winston Duke as M'Baku.
The casting announcement was made during Marvel Studios' Hall H presentation at Comic-Con, confirming the next chapter in the franchise.
Jonsson will portray Prince T'Challa II, who was first introduced as a young boy in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the son of King T'Challa and Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong'o.
The upcoming film continues the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, who originated the role of T'Challa in the 2018 film Black Panther. Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43 while Coogler was developing the sequel.
Rather than recast the character at the time, Marvel shifted the story's focus to Shuri, with Letitia Wright taking up the mantle of Black Panther in Wakanda Forever.
Jonsson has steadily built his Hollywood profile with standout performances in Alien: Romulus and the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk.
His casting marks the beginning of a new era as Marvel prepares to tell the story of Wakanda's next generation.
Talk of a third film began shortly after the release of Wakanda Forever. In a 2023 interview with Variety, Wright revealed another installment was in development.
"We just had a terrific two years of bringing it out and everybody coming together to support it," Wright said. "We need a little bit of a break, we need to regroup and Ryan needs to get back into the lab, so it's going to take a little while, but we're really excited for you guys to see that."
Released in 2018, Black Panther became a global phenomenon, earning $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office. It made history as the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, winning three Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Original Score.
Before Black Panther 3 arrives in theaters, fans will see Wright reprise her role as Shuri in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18.