Ryan Coogler announces David Jonsson as the new Black Panther

There’s a new Black Panther, and his name is David Jonsson. Director Ryan Coogler announced at Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday that Jonsson would be assuming the role. Jonsson will play T’Challa’s son in “Black Panther 3,” which will be out on Dec. 15, 2028. Coogler is returning to direct the third movie in the series. “Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said onstage after Coogler shared the news. “I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let this screen do the talking.” The crowd roared with applause upon learning the news. In the first “Black Panther” film, T’Challa was played by Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in 2020 after the movie premiered and while Coogler was working on the film’s sequel. His role was somewhat assumed in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” by Letitia Wright, who played T’Challa’s sister, Shuri. The news of Jonsson’s casting appears to be the true passing of the torch, though. His role, Prince T’Challa II, was introduced in the second “Black Panther” installment, but the third film will see him coming of age and taking over. Jonsson is most known for his roles in Stephen King’s “The Long Walk,” “Alien: Romulus” and as Gus Sackey in the first two seasons of “Industry.” In other major casting news, Ryan Gosling was revealed to be the star of the upcoming “Ghost Rider” film set to hit theaters in 2028. That film will be helmed by “Deadpool & Wolverine” director Shawn Levy. Ironically, Gosling’s longtime partner, actor Eva Mendes, co-starred as the love interest in the 2007 “Ghost Rider” film opposite Nicholas Cage.