British actor David Jonsson has been cast as Prince T’Challa II in “Black Panther 3,” which is scheduled for theatrical release on December 15, 2028, Marvel Studios announced during its Comic-Con panel in San Diego, per variety.com.
The upcoming instalment, directed by returning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, will focus on the coming-of-age story of the late King T’Challa’s son, who was first introduced as a young child in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
Franchise stars Letitia Wright and Winston Duke will also return to reprise their respective roles as Shuri and M’Baku.
Wright assumed the title role of Black Panther in the 2022 sequel following the death of Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed T’Challa in the 2018 original before dying of colon cancer at age 43 in 2020. Wright is set to appear as the superhero again in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in cinemas on December 18.
Jonsson, whose recent credits include Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, joins a franchise that has achieved substantial box-office and critical acclaim. The original 2018 film grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning three. The 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever, took $859 million globally and secured five Oscar nominations.
The casting marks a pivotal progression for Marvel Studios’ Wakandan storyline, establishing the next generation of leadership within the franchise while maintaining continuity with the original characters.
°Featured image: David Jonsson/Instagram