Marvel Studios leadership knew approximately five to six months ago that David Jonsson would portray the next Black Panther. This decision followed a private meeting between director Ryan Coogler and Marvel Cinematic Universe head Kevin Feige.

Feige shared details of the casting process in an interview with Empire at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. He explained that Coogler initiated contact regarding Jonsson's potential casting before an official search for the actor to play the son of T'Challa, the character previously portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, had begun. Coogler, who was occupied with the project "Sinners" at the time, had reportedly been considering Jonsson for months.

"We hadn’t started a search yet. Ryan was working on Sinners, and when Ryan works on a project he’s all in," Feige stated. "So the presumption very much was we would sit with him after Sinners came out, after the Academy campaign. We were waiting 'til after the Academy Awards to sit with Ryan and begin that process."

Feige recounted Coogler's call approximately six weeks prior to the planned casting discussions: "A month and a half or so before that process, he called me and said, 'I found him.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He goes, 'I found him. He's this guy, David Jonsson.'" Coogler had seen some of Jonsson's previous work and committed to meeting him.

Jonsson, a British actor, has gained recognition for roles in projects such as "Endeavour" and "Deep State." He also received praise for his performance as Andy in the 2024 film "Alien: Romulus" and as Peter in the adaptation of Stephen King's "The Long Walk." These performances captured Coogler's attention.

Following Marvel Studios' Hall H presentation, it was confirmed that Jonsson will be the next Black Panther. He is expected to appear alongside returning cast members Letitia Wright as Shuri and Winston Duke as M'Baku in "Black Panther 3." Feige indicated that the secrecy surrounding Jonsson's casting had been maintained for a considerable period.

"He had a secret meeting with him under cloak of darkness in a hotel somewhere, and called me afterwards and said, 'He's the guy, he's the guy, I felt it. I felt it in my soul. He's a good man, and he is the next Black Panther,'" Feige added. "And I got chills, and I got a little welled-up and said, 'Let’s do it.' So we've been sitting on this secret for a good five or six months."

"Black Panther 3" is scheduled to premiere on December 15, 2028. The announcement was made during Marvel's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con.