Updated

Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 28

Michael B. Jordan Backs David Jonsson's Black Panther 3 Casting Ahead of 2028 Release

Updated

Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 28

Michael B. Jordan Backs David Jonsson's Black Panther 3 Casting Ahead of 2028 Release

Q: With rumors swirling, could Michael B. Jordan actually return to guide the new Black Panther in the upcoming 2028 sequel?

Yes, Michael B. Jordan could plausibly return in *Black Panther 3*, but there is no official confirmation that he will. What is confirmed is that Jordan is publicly enthusiastic about the sequel and David Jonsson’s casting as the adult T’Challa II. He told *Entertainment Tonight* he “love[s] it” and “can’t wait,” which signals support for Ryan Coogler’s next chapter rather than any announced involvement of his own. Marvel’s Comic-Con reveal focused on Jonsson taking up the mantle, with Coogler, Kevin Feige, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke presenting the film, but no return for Jordan was announced. Still, the rumors are understandable. Jordan has deep ties to Coogler, having starred in the 2018 original as Erik Killmonger and reprised the role in *Wakanda Forever* in 2022 despite Killmonger’s death in the first film. In the MCU, that precedent matters: Wakanda stories have already used the ancestral plane and other devices that make limited returns possible even for dead characters. If Jordan does appear, the most likely scenario would be not as a main co-lead but as a mentor-like or spiritual presence connected to the new Black Panther’s journey, especially given the franchise’s themes of legacy, kingship and lineage. That said, this remains speculation. The only verified facts are that David Jonsson will lead as T’Challa’s grown son, Coogler is directing, the film will shoot on 70mm, and it is set for release on Dec. 15, 2028.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 28

Michael B. Jordan said Monday he "love[s]" David Jonsson's casting as the new Black Panther, calling the choice "amazing" at the Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiere in Los Angeles.
Comic-Con 2026 brought the key reveal: Jonsson will play an adult version of T'Challa's son in Ryan Coogler's third Black Panther film, which will shoot on 70mm and open Dec. 15, 2028.
Jordan has deep ties to the franchise and Coogler, having played Erik Killmonger in the 2018 original and 2022's Wakanda Forever, though Marvel has not said whether he will return for the third film.
Chadwick Boseman's legacy still frames the series after his 2020 death at 43, with Jordan repeatedly honoring his late co-star and saying earlier this year he still feels Boseman's presence in his work.