David Jonsson’s Black Panther 3 role gets Winston Duke’s backing
Marvel’s third Wakanda film is set for Dec. 15, 2028, with Jonsson playing Prince T’Challa II and Duke returning as M’Baku.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
David Jonsson’s Black Panther 3 role already has a powerful Wakandan endorsement: Winston Duke says he trusts the actor, the director and Marvel’s decision-makers as the franchise heads toward its third solo film.
Marvel teased the next chapter at San Diego Comic-Con, according to Variety, and set a Dec. 15, 2028 release date. Jonsson is joining the cast as Prince T’Challa II, the son of T’Challa, carrying forward a screen legacy tied to the late Chadwick Boseman.
Duke, who is returning as M’Baku, told Variety he has faith in the casting. “I trust him as an artist. I also trust the people who chose him,” Duke said of Jonsson. He added that he trusts director Ryan Coogler and the MCU executive team, saying he thinks the result will be “great.”
Who is David Jonsson playing in Black Panther 3?
Jonsson will play Prince T’Challa II, the son of T’Challa. The role connects the new film directly to Chadwick Boseman’s character, whose presence has remained central to the series since Boseman’s death.
Duke said his own arrival in the Wakanda world shaped how he wants to work with Jonsson. The first “Black Panther” was Duke’s debut film, and he told Variety he was welcomed with grace and made to feel the set was a safe place to work and play.
For Jonsson, Duke said his plan is less about handing down instructions and more about meeting him as a scene partner. Duke said he does not have advice for him, adding that he wants to play with him, trust him and offer the same grace he received when he joined the franchise.
Ryan Coogler is set to direct after previously helming “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Letitia Wright is also returning as Shuri, according to Variety.
Duke’s Marvel calendar is not limited to Wakanda. Variety reported that he will also appear as M’Baku in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which is scheduled to premiere Dec. 18.
Interest in that film is already running hot by Marvel standards. Variety reported that the “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer had been watched 503 million times since its release on Monday.
Asked about fan attention on the MCU’s next phase, Duke told Variety that Marvel has the audience’s attention because of the trust built across many films. He framed the franchise’s strength as a group effort rather than the work of any single director.
The first “Black Panther” arrived in 2018 and became one of Marvel’s landmark releases. Variety reported that it made $1.3 billion worldwide, earned seven Oscar nominations and won three Academy Awards.
The new film now has its date, its director, a returning M’Baku and a newly cast Prince T’Challa II. For Duke, the handoff is in good hands.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.