David Jonsson has been announced as the next actor to don the Black Panther mantle.
The news came during the Marvel Studios Hall H presentation at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Director Ryan Coogler confirmed the 32-year-old would take the lead in the franchise’s third instalment, succeeding the late Chadwick Boseman.
Sharing a post from the official Black Panther social media account, Mr Coogler explained the character would be portrayed as the son of the T’Challa role played by Boseman in the previous entries. He told the audience the character would reach maturity and come of age in this new chapter.
Jonsson received a standing ovation as he took to the stage and thanked the director and Kevin Feige, describing it as an honour and privilege to join what he called an amazing family. He expressed that he preferred to let his work speak for itself rather than say too much at this stage, and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
Additional announcements from the panel included Ryan Gosling being cast as Ghost Rider in a 2028 release helmed by Shawn Levy.
Jonsson was born on September 4, 1993, in Custom House, east London. He is the youngest of four children and identifies as Creole, with family connections to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean, and Sweden.
His father worked in information technology at Heathrow Airport while his mother served as a Metropolitan Police officer.
After facing challenges with his education and changing schools, Jonsson informed his mother of his ambition to become an actor following his GCSE examinations. He subsequently spent two years in New York City before relocating back to London at the age of 18.
He became involved with the National Youth Theatre and secured a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he graduated in 2016 after receiving a scholarship.
Jonsson’s early career saw him perform in London’s West End theatre district. He received a Black British Theatre Award for his portrayal in the 2021 production and breathe…
His television breakthrough came through his leading part in the BBC Two and HBO drama series Industry, which ran from 2020 to 2022. He also starred in the Paramount+ series The Road Trip and appeared as a recurring character in the second series of the British spy drama Deep State.
His feature film appearances include Rye Lane (2023), Alien: Romulus (2024), and The Long Walk (2025).
In 2025, Jonsson collected the BAFTA Rising Star Award and earned a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the British Independent Film Awards for his work in Wasteman, a gritty British prison drama where he plays the character Taylor alongside Tom Blyth as Dee. The narrative centres on a long-serving prisoner approaching potential release whose established routine is disrupted by a troublesome new cellmate.
The third Black Panther instalment, again under Coogler’s direction, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas in 2028.