Black Panther star Winston Duke says working with David Jonsson honours Chadwick Boseman’s legacy as Marvel prepares for the next chapter of Wakanda.
Winston Duke has shared his excitement about David Jonsson joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the new lead in Black Panther 3, describing the casting as an emotional step forward for the beloved superhero franchise.
Ryan Coogler officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25 that the 32-year-old British actor will headline the next instalment of the Black Panther series.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Duke—who portrayed M’Baku, the leader of the Jabari Crew, in both Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)—revealed that he learned about Jonsson’s casting only shortly before the public announcement.
Winston Duke learned of casting at Comic-Con
The 39-year-old Tobagonian actor said he had very little advance notice regarding the casting decision.
“I have not been clued in very long,” Duke said, explaining that he met Jonsson on the same day the casting announcement was made.
He added that a brief conversation with director Ryan Coogler was all the information he had before the reveal.
“I had a conversation with Ryan and that was it, like just right before, and it was a very new experience for me, just as much as these folks today,” Duke explained.
Honouring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy
Duke said the new chapter of the franchise carries deep emotional significance for everyone involved, particularly because of the lasting impact of late actor Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed King T’Challa before his passing in 2020.
“We all love this franchise, we all love these stories, we all love these characters, and we all love Chadwick,” Duke said.
He added that the cast is looking forward to moving the story ahead together with Jonsson while continuing to honour Boseman’s legacy.
David Jonsson to portray T’Challa II
David Jonsson will portray T’Challa II, the son of T’Challa and Nakia (played by Lupita Nyong’o).
The character was first introduced during the mid-credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where audiences discovered that Nakia had been raising her son away from Wakanda following T’Challa’s death.
The upcoming film will explore the next generation of Wakanda, with Jonsson taking on the mantle of the iconic Marvel hero.
Black Panther 3 release date
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther 3 is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 15, 2028. The film marks a new era for the franchise while continuing the legacy established by Chadwick Boseman’s unforgettable portrayal of T’Challa.