David Jonsson to star as T'Challa's son in Black Panther 3

Marvel Studios reshaped the future of its cinematic universe on Saturday, 25 July 2026, using the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con to unveil major casting decisions and release dates, according to News.webindia123. Among the high-profile updates, studio president Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler confirmed that David Jonsson will star as the grown-up son of T'Challa in Black Panther 3.

Jonsson appeared on stage to a roaring crowd, greeted by fans chanting Wakanda slogans, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter via News.webindia123. The film is scheduled to be shot in 70mm.

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"Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and privilege and the blessing to join"

David Jonsson, actor, via News.webindia123

Jonsson added on stage, as reported by Mathrubhumi:

"I don't want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking."

David Jonsson, actor, via Mathrubhumi

The upcoming sequel will center on the adult version of T'Challa's son, a character introduced in the closing moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) with Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong'o. Yahoo noted that this creates a narrative puzzle regarding how a young child ages into a thirty-something actor within a universe that tracks time in a relatively realistic manner, though observers point to multiverse mechanics and upcoming events like Avengers: Secret Wars as potential catalysts for altering the timeline.

Jonsson joins the franchise after building a rising Hollywood profile with acclaimed performances in Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk, and the television drama Industry. Coogler will return to direct the third installment, alongside returning cast members Letitia Wright as Shuri and Winston Duke as M'Baku, according to Digital Spy. The original Black Panther (2018) made cinematic history as the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, cementing a cultural legacy following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020.

Beyond Wakanda, the Hall H presentation delivered a wave of blockbuster announcements across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Feige confirmed that Ryan Gosling has officially joined the franchise to star as Ghost Rider in a standalone feature directed by Shawn Levy, as detailed by Digital Spy and Mid-Day. Gosling shared his enthusiasm with the convention audience, stating via Digital Spy:

"Wow. Is this really happening? OK. As you know, this is a character I've wanted to play for a very long time."

Ryan Gosling, actor, via Digital Spy

Yahoo pointed out that Marvel has yet to clarify which iteration of the antihero Gosling will embody, leaving fans to speculate between classic comic figures like Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch. Meanwhile, Mathrubhumi reported that Avengers: Endgame will return to theaters on Thursday, 25 September 2026 with additional footage designed to connect the blockbuster to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Releases

• Black Panther 3: 15 December 2028 (Digital Spy)
• Ghost Rider: 2028 (Digital Spy)

Additional surprises at the panel included an appearance by Ryan Reynolds in a grey Deadpool suit, who asked questions during the presentation, according to Yahoo and The Verge. Digital Spy also confirmed that Hayley Atwell will reprise her role as Peggy Carter in the next Avengers movie.