Marvel chief Kevin Feige recently shared with Empire about the casting of David Jonsson as the upcoming Black Panther. Feige revealed that the star of “The Long Walk” had a “secret meeting” with “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, who quickly recognized Jonsson as his next leading man.
“We hadn’t begun a search yet,” Feige stated. “Ryan was focused on ‘Sinners,’ and when he commits to a project, he is all in. The assumption was that we would meet with him after ‘Sinners’ released and following the Academy campaign. We were waiting until after the Academy Awards before starting that process.”
He continued, “About a month and a half prior to that meeting, he called and said, ‘I found him.’ I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ He replied, ‘I found him. It’s this guy, David Jonsson.’ He referenced his films. I had seen a few and watched more after. He said, ‘I’m going to meet him.’ He had a secret meeting in a hotel somewhere and called me afterwards, saying, ‘He’s the guy, I felt it. I felt it in my soul. He’s a great person, and he is the next Black Panther.’ It gave me chills, and I felt emotional saying, ‘Let’s do it.’ We’ve kept this secret for a good five or six months.”
Jonsson will portray T’Challa’s son in “Black Panther 3,” set to be released on Dec. 15, 2028. The announcement took place during Marvel’s Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con. Original cast members Leticia Wright and Winston Duke will reprise their roles, following Prince T’Challa II as he matures and embraces the Black Panther legacy.
After the passing of Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer at age 43 in 2020, Wright took over the Black Panther role in 2022’s “Wakanda Forever.”
Marvel debuted the original “Black Panther” in 2018 to tremendous acclaim, grossing $1.3 billion globally and receiving seven Oscar nominations, including best picture.
