British actor David Jonsson has officially been announced as the new Black Panther, with Marvel Studios confirming that he will lead Black Panther 3 as the adult Prince T’Challa II, the son of the late King T’Challa and Nakia. Director Ryan Coogler revealed the casting during Marvel Studios’ presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where he also confirmed the film will be released in cinemas on 15 December 2028.
The announcement marks a major milestone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which has carefully preserved the legacy of the late Chadwick Boseman rather than recasting his iconic character following his death in 2020.
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and the privilege and the blessing to join.” — David Jonsson.
Marvel Studios // Instagram
Honouring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy
The original Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, died on 28 August 2020 at the age of 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
Boseman had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, but kept his illness out of the public eye while continuing to film several major productions, including Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
His passing shocked fans around the world and left Marvel Studios facing one of the biggest decisions in its history.
Rather than recasting T’Challa, Marvel president Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler chose to honour Boseman’s memory by retiring the character.
The emotional 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, centred on Wakanda mourning its fallen king while introducing T’Challa’s young son, Prince T’Challa II, in the film’s closing moments.
Now, six years later, the franchise is moving forward with that storyline, with Jonsson portraying the grown-up heir to the Wakandan throne.
“The story continues through the next generation of Wakanda.”
A rising British star steps into Marvel’s biggest role.
Born in London on 4 September 1993, David Jonsson graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2016.
Although relatively new to blockbuster cinema, Jonsson has steadily become one of Britain’s most respected young actors.
His breakthrough came in HBO and BBC’s financial drama Industry (2020–2022), where he played ambitious graduate Gus Sackey. The series earned widespread critical acclaim and introduced him to international audiences.
Jonsson then won praise for his leading role as Dom in Rye Lane (2023), a romantic comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before receiving glowing reviews from critics. Many praised his natural chemistry with co-star Vivian Oparah and his warm, understated performance.
His international profile grew further with Alien: Romulus (2024), in which he portrayed the android, Andy.
The science-fiction horror film became a commercial success, grossing more than $350 million worldwide against a production budget of about $80 million. It also became one of the highest-grossing films in the long-running Alien franchise.
David Jonsson_ // Instagram
Jonsson has since starred in The Long Walk, the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, further demonstrating his versatility across genres.
His impressive run of performances culminated in winning the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2025, cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s fastest-rising screen talents.
“From Industry to Alien: Romulus, Jonsson has built an impressive résumé before taking on Marvel’s most iconic superhero role.”
Black Panther enters a new chapter.
Ryan Coogler returns to direct the third instalment after helming both previous Black Panther films. Letitia Wright is expected to reprise her role as Shuri, while Winston Duke is also set to return as M’Baku.
The film is expected to focus on Prince T’Challa II’s journey as he embraces his father’s legacy and assumes the mantle of Wakanda’s protector.
Speaking after the announcement, Jonsson declined to reveal plot details but expressed his excitement about joining the franchise.
“I don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking.”
Away from the spotlight, Jonsson keeps his personal life private and has no publicly confirmed relationships or children.
