Marvel Knew David Jonsson Would Be the Next Black Panther 6 Months Ago After 'Secret Meeting' With Ryan Coogler

Marvel Studios knew David Jonsson would prima successful Black Panther 3 'five oregon six months' agone acknowledgment to a 'secret meeting' manager Ryan Coogler Held with Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) brag Kevin Feige.

The MCU mastermind spoke astir the casting process during a speech with Empire astatine San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026. During their post-Hall H chat, Feige recalled the infinitesimal Coogler reached retired to transportation the thought of Jonsson starring Black Panther 3 arsenic the adjacent Black Panther.

The Marvel Studios caput said an authoritative hunt for an histrion to play the lad of the precocious Chadwick Boseman's character, T'Challa, erstwhile Coogler initially got successful touch. Although the manager was engaged astatine the time, it sounds similar Jonsson has been connected his caput for months.

David Jonsson astatine SDCC during Marvel's Hall H Panel. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.

"I’ll springiness you the existent scoop," Feige said. "We hadn’t started a hunt yet. Ryan was moving connected Sinners, and erstwhile Ryan works connected a task he’s each in. So the presumption precise overmuch was we would beryllium with him aft Sinners came out, aft the Academy campaign. We were waiting 'til aft the Academy Awards to beryllium with Ryan and statesman that process.

"A period and a fractional oregon truthful earlier that process, helium called maine and said, 'I recovered him.' I said, 'What bash you mean?' He goes, 'I recovered him. He's this guy, David Jonsson.' He mentioned his movies. I had seen immoderate of them. I watched more. He goes, 'I'm going to conscionable him.'"

Jonsson is simply a British histrion and has been a rising prima successful Hollywood for the past fewer years. First starring successful lesser-known roles with projects similar Endeavour and Deep State, the histrion yet went connected to person praise for his clip arsenic Andy the android successful 2024's Alien: Romulus. Last year, helium nailed different standout portion arsenic Peter successful the live-action adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk.

His clip connected screens large and tiny caught Coogler's attention, and arsenic of Marvel Studios' Hall H sheet past night, he's acceptable to beryllium the adjacent Black Panther. When helium shows up successful Black Panther 3, he'll beryllium joined by Letitia Wright arsenic Shuri and Winston Duke arsenic M'Baku. Feige said Jonsson's inclusion is simply a casting prime Coogler and the remainder of Marvel person kept concealed longer than immoderate mightiness person guessed.

"He had a concealed gathering with him nether cloak of acheronian successful a edifice somewhere, and called maine afterwards and said, 'He's the guy, he's the guy, I felt it. I felt it successful my soul. He's a bully man, and helium is the adjacent Black Panther,'" Feige added. "And I got chills, and I got a small welled-up and said, 'Let’s bash it.' So we've been sitting connected this concealed for a bully 5 oregon six months."

Black Panther 3 premieres December 15, 2028. For more, you tin work astir however Ryan Gosling yet landed the portion of Ghost Rider. You tin besides drawback up connected everything other announced during the Marvel Hall H panel.

Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).