Marvel’s next Black Panther will carry a Nigerian connection into Wakanda after British actor David Jonsson was unveiled as the new face of the superhero franchise.
The London-born actor, whose Creole heritage spans Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Caribbean, will portray the adult Prince T’Challa II in Black Panther 3.
Jonsson’s character is the son of the late King T’Challa and Nakia, introduced as a child named Toussaint in the closing moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Director Ryan Coogler presented the 32-year-old actor during Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.
“I want you to give a warm welcome to our new Black Panther: Mr David Jonsson,” Coogler told cheering fans.
An emotional Jonsson thanked Coogler, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and the franchise’s cast for welcoming him.
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and privilege and the blessing to join,” he said.
“I don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking, but believe me, the honour is entirely mine.”
David Jonsoon: From Nigerian roots to Wakanda’s throne
Jonsson was raised in a working-class East London family as the youngest of four children. His mother worked in policing, while his father was an information technology engineer.
He established himself through performances in Industry, Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, earning the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2025.
His Nigerian ancestry gives the new Black Panther era added significance for viewers in the country, although Jonsson was born and raised in Britain.
The casting does not amount to a recasting of Chadwick Boseman’s King T’Challa. Jonsson will instead play the late king’s adult son and namesake, allowing Marvel to continue the royal bloodline through a new generation.
Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43. Marvel subsequently made Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, the Black Panther in the 2022 sequel.
Wright and Winston Duke will return as Shuri and M’Baku respectively, while Coogler will direct the franchise for a third time.
Black Panther 3 will follow Prince T’Challa II as he comes of age and embraces his responsibility as Wakanda’s new protector.
The film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 15, 2028.
