The king has an heir. Ryan Coogler took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday to announce that Black Panther 3 is heading to theaters December 15, 2028, and that David Jonsson will play the grown-up version of T’Challa Jr., the son introduced at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
First revealed as a young boy named Toussaint, the son of T’Challa and Nakia who was raised far from the pressures of the Wakandan throne, T’Challa Jr. now comes of age in the new film with his eyes on the crown. The story is reported to center heavily on legacy and succession, with Nakia reportedly resistant to her son entering the dangerous life of the Black Panther, while Shuri must balance her role as current protector and decide how the mantle transitions to the next generation. Internal political tensions within Wakanda and a deeper dive into the mystical Ancestral Plane are also said to factor into the story.
Letitia Wright returns as Shuri and Denzel Washington is also part of the cast as previously announced. Coogler returns to direct the trilogy finale.
Jonsson has been one of the most buzzed about young actors working today, recently earning widespread praise for his role in Alien: Romulus and currently starring in the Critics Choice Super Awards-nominated Backrooms.
Black Panther 3 opens in theaters December 15, 2028.