Marvel’s Biggest Comic-Con Surprise: David Jonsson Is the New Black Panther

Marvel had Hall H on its feet Saturday night. Ryan Coogler walked onto the stage at San Diego Comic-Con, brought out Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, and then dropped the news everyone had been waiting for.
David Jonsson is the new Black Panther.
Jonsson will play T’Challa’s grown son — Toussaint, also known as T’Challa II — who was introduced in the post-credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Black Panther 3 is set to hit theaters December 15, 2028.

What Happened on Stage

Jonsson joined Coogler on stage alongside Wright and Winston Duke, holding his hand to his chest and smiling broadly. “Thank you to this family that I have the honor and the blessing to join. I don’t want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking,” said the 32-year-old actor.
The crowd responded with a standing ovation, with some sections breaking out into Wakanda chants.

The Story

In the MCU, Toussaint is the son of T’Challa and Nakia, raised in Haiti by his mother to keep him away from the pressures of the Wakandan royal family and the throne. Coogler explained on stage: “The last time we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who is the son of the character that the great Chadwick Boseman played. In this next film, he grows up and comes of age.”

The Technical Details

Black Panther 3 will be filmed entirely on 70mm — a first for the MCU. Denzel Washington is also confirmed in the cast. The film arrives after Avengers: Secret Wars, positioning it as a key part of Marvel’s next phase.

Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider

Marvel also revealed that Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in a film directed by Shawn Levy, also set for 2028.

The Franchise So Far

The first Black Panther in 2018 grossed $1.3 billion and won three Oscars — the first superhero film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Chadwick Boseman died of cancer in August 2020. Wakanda Forever followed in 2022 with Letitia Wright’s Shuri taking the mantle, earning $850 million worldwide.
Now the crown passes to the next generation.
Source: AP, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Marvel.com, Comics Beat