Winston Duke is officially returning to Wakanda for Black Panther 3, and he is already backing David Jonsson to carry the next chapter of the franchise. Variety reported that Duke will reprise his role as M’Baku, while Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther in Ryan Coogler’s upcoming film.
Marvel confirmed the news during its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026. Coogler announced that Jonsson will play T’Challa, the son and namesake of Chadwick Boseman’s character, and the film is set to hit theaters on December 15, 2028. AP reported that Jonsson appeared onstage with Coogler, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, while EW noted that Jonsson called joining the Marvel family an “honor” and a “privilege” and said he wanted to “let the screen do the talking.”
Duke’s response is the part that stands out most. In post-announcement comments shared through Variety’s coverage, he said he trusts Jonsson “as an artist” and also trusts the people who chose him. He added that he welcomed Jonsson into the family and wanted him to feel it was a safe place to come and play. That kind of endorsement matters, especially in a franchise built on legacy and emotional continuity.
The casting also fits the story Marvel set up in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In that 2022 sequel, Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia revealed that she had been raising T’Challa’s son, Toussaint, in secret, and that his Wakandan name was T’Challa. EW noted that this reveal has long fueled speculation about the future of the mantle, and Marvel producer Nate Moore previously said the story would determine whether recasting ever made sense.
Jonsson arrives with a fast-rising résumé of his own. EW highlighted his work in The Long Walk, while AP and Reuters noted his earlier credits in Industry and Alien: Romulus, along with his appearance at Comic-Con as one of Marvel’s most anticipated new additions. The combination of Coogler’s return, Duke’s support, and Jonsson’s rising profile makes Black Panther 3 one of the MCU’s most closely watched projects.
For Wakanda, this is not just another sequel announcement. It is the beginning of a new phase for a franchise that has always carried both blockbuster scale and emotional weight, and Duke’s public support helps make that transition feel a little more grounded.
