David Jonsson’s casting as the next T’Challa has received a warm response from the Black Panther cast, with Winston Duke expressing his excitement about the franchise’s next chapter. Duke, who returns as M’Baku in Black Panther 3, spoke about Jonsson’s arrival shortly after Marvel director Ryan Coogler announced the casting at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026.
The news represents a major transition for the Wakanda franchise. Jonsson will play T’Challa II, the son of Chadwick Boseman’s original T’Challa and Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, as the character grows into his role as the next Black Panther.
Winston Duke Welcomes David Jonsson to the Black Panther Franchise
Duke revealed that he was not informed about Jonsson’s casting very far in advance. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Duke said he actually met Jonsson on the same day Marvel publicly announced his role.
“I have not been clued in very long,”
Duke explained. The actor added that he had spoken with Coogler shortly before the announcement, making Jonsson’s arrival a relatively new development even for members of the returning cast.
Despite the limited notice, Duke made it clear that he and his fellow cast members are enthusiastic about Jonsson joining the franchise.
“We all love this franchise, we all love these stories, we all love these characters, and we all love Chadwick [Boseman],”
he told PEOPLE.
Duke then emphasized the importance of moving forward together with the new actor, saying,
“We’re so happy that we can take this step forward together [with Jonsson].”
Jonsson’s character was first introduced during the mid-credits sequence of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film revealed that T’Challa and Nakia had a son, also named T’Challa, who had been raised away from Wakanda.
Black Panther 3 will reportedly focus on the younger T’Challa as he comes of age, creating a storyline that allows the franchise to continue the legacy established by Boseman’s character while introducing a new lead.
Ryan Coogler will return to direct the third installment, with Letitia Wright also expected to reprise her role as Shuri. Denzel Washington is additionally part of the cast, following Coogler’s confirmation in 2025 that he had written a role for the Oscar-winning actor.
For Duke, the Black Panther franchise has also transformed his own career and life. Reflecting on the impact of joining the MCU, he told PEOPLE,
“So much has changed — I’ve changed in every way.”
The actor said the success of the films has brought him recognition from audiences around the world while giving him opportunities he never considered guaranteed.
“I’ve changed fundamentally, right, from the ground up,”
Duke added, describing himself as deeply grateful for the experience.
Black Panther 3 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 15, 2028, and will be filmed on 70mm.
