Comic-Con attendees witnessed the kind of surprise Marvel fans dream about. During the studio’s Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, Ryan Coogler, director of the Black Panther franchise, revealed that actor David Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther. He’ll portray the adult Prince T’Challa—the son of King T’Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Audiences briefly met a young version of the prince in the emotional final moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022.
So who is the actor entrusted with carrying one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most beloved legacies? Here are five things to know about Jonsson before he suits up as Wakanda’s newest hero.
His roots span the African diaspora.
Born and raised in East London, Jonsson has spoken proudly about his multicultural heritage, saying, “My family’s Nigerian and Sierra Leone Creole… Culture was everything growing up.” That rich background makes his casting as the next Black Panther especially meaningful for a franchise that has always celebrated the diversity of the African continent and its diaspora.
Ryan Coogler knew he was Black Panther months ago.
The rest of the world met Jonsson as Marvel’s new Black Panther at this year’s Comic-Con, but Coogler quietly chose the actor about six months earlier. According to Marvel president Kevin Feige, the filmmaker immediately knew Jonsson was the right fit after a private meeting and kept the casting a closely guarded secret until the fan festival reveal.
Letitia Wright couldn’t be happier to pass the mantle.
Wright revealed she already has a personal relationship with Jonsson, calling the casting “beautiful” and describing him as “a special person with a good heart.” She joked that she’s looking forward to mentoring—and teasing—him as the Prince and Shuri’s nephew.
You know him from this sweet, British rom-com.
Jonsson made us sit up and take notice when he starred in the acclaimed romantic comedy Rye Lane, opposite Vivian Oparah, showcasing a light-hearted approach to Black rom-coms. He also made waves in the sexy banking series Industry and proved he could lead blockbuster films in Alien: Romulus, as well as emotionally high-stakes movies like The Long Walk.
He started his career on stage.
Before Marvel, Jonsson built his career as many rising British actors do, on the West End stages. In 2017, he played William Davison in Mary Stuart at the Almeida Theatre; it transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre for his West End debut. He also starred in Don Juan in Soho that year. In 2021, he won Best Male Actor at the Black British Theatre Awards for his work in and breathe… at the Almeida Theatre.
Black Panther 3 will be released on December 15, 2028.