Marvel Studios used its annual San Diego Comic-Con presentation this weekend to confirm two major casting decisions, one of which carries particular weight for fans of the Black Panther franchise. Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in a future MCU film, but the more unexpected news was the reveal of David Jonsson as the new Black Panther.
Jonsson, a 32-year-old actor born in London and trained at RADA, will portray Toussaint / T'Challa II — the adult son of the late T'Challa, first glimpsed as a child in the post-credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The character's father was originally played by Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 at age 43. Marvel chose not to recast T'Challa, instead passing the mantle to Shuri (Letitia Wright) in the sequel.
Director Ryan Coogler introduced Jonsson on stage, saying: “I want you to give a warm welcome to our new Black Panther: Mr David Jonsson.” The actor responded with visible emotion: “Thank you Ryan. Thank you Kevin. Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and privilege and the blessing to join. 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.”
From London to Wakanda
Jonsson first gained widespread attention playing Gus Sackey on HBO's Industry, a drama set in the high-pressure world of London finance. He followed that with acclaimed performances in the romantic comedy Rye Lane (one of the standout European films of 2023), the sci-fi horror Alien: Romulus, and last year's adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk. In 2024, he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
Wright, who will reprise her role as Shuri, told Entertainment Weekly that she has a personal connection to Jonsson. “The news was really beautiful to hear because I have a personal connection to David. To see the full circle of that today, I’m still living in it. We’re both still checking in with each other about it.” She added that her character now has “that mantle to pass on, and [that] guidance and the wisdom.”
The third Black Panther film will also feature Winston Duke as M'Baku and Denzel Washington, who previously confirmed his involvement. Coogler returns as director after the critical and commercial success of Sinners, which earned 16 Oscar nominations this year and won four, including Best Original Screenplay.
The original Black Panther (2018) grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and became the first superhero film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won three Oscars: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Score. Its sequel, Wakanda Forever, earned $859 million globally, making it the highest-grossing MCU film of the last five years.
In our review of Wakanda Forever, we noted that while the film occasionally falls into the familiar Marvel third-act trap — “a rather daft maritime scuffle whose resolution can’t help but feel underwhelming” — Coogler largely managed to “sidestep the assembly line template for most of the runtime.” That balancing act will be tested again as the franchise moves forward with a new lead.
Jonsson's casting also reflects a broader trend of British actors taking on major superhero roles, from Henry Cavill's Superman to Tom Holland's Spider-Man. For a London-born performer who trained at one of the UK's most prestigious drama schools, the leap from the trading floors of Industry to the vibranium-rich landscapes of Wakanda is a significant one — and one that European audiences will be watching closely.
