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Marvel Studios returned to Hall H amid San Diego Comic-Con 2026 this weekend, and Kevin Feige and co. had some major news to share about Black Panther 3. Not only did writer/director Ryan Coogler confirm the film will hit theaters in 2028 but that it’s also cast a new lead, David Jonsson. The British actor will take on the role of T’Challa II, the son of the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. M’Baku actor Winston Duke will appear alongside Jonsson in the threequel, and he weighed in on welcoming his co-star into the fold.
Duke is one of the OGs of the Black Panther franchise and, at this point, he’s also a seasoned member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe family in general. So it would be understandable that he could impart some words of wisdom to his new co-star. However, when Duke was asked about his interactions with Jonsson thus far, he didn’t mention the notion of giving advice. Instead, Duke wants to bestow upon his scene partner something he generously received years ago:
I wanted to extend to him the grace that was extended to me. Black Panther was my very first film, and I was invited to create something really cool with a lot of grace, with a lot of safety. I wanted to just let him know that we’re here to support, we’re here to help, we’re here to augment, we’re here to be here for him and for him to do his best work. I didn’t want to say anything else but, ‘Come play.’
The Fall Guy alum shared those comments with Deadline at SDCC, and they indicate that mere mentorship isn’t what’s on his mind as far as Jonsson is concerned. It sounds like Duke, instead, wants to provide a safe and healthy space for the Rye Lane star to contribute to the work. The phrase, “come play” sweetly encapsulates Duke’s point of view.
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I love hearing that even after just meeting Jonsson for the first time at Comic-Con, he’s already keen on welcoming him into the Wakanda (and Marvel) family. Speaking of family, Jonsson’s fellow MCU members also warmly welcomed him as did fans, who applauded him when he was revealed to be joining the new movie. Check out the sweet reception he received:
Also, it’s hard to believe so much time has passed since 2018’s Black Panther, which – as Winston Duke mentioned – marked his big-screen debut. The scene-stealing actor really struck a chord through his role as the vivacious leader of the Jabari tribe. As time has gone on, the character has grown from being an arrogant isolationist to a thoughtful (yet still funny) leader, who becomes king of his nation by the end of 2022’s Wakanda Forever. On that same token, Duke has also grown into a great actor over the last several years.
Duke will next appear as M’Baku in Avengers: Doomsday, though questions are sure to persist in regard to what lies ahead for him beyond that. Even though Black Panther 3 is Ryan Coogler’s next film, he and the powers that be aren’t revealing too much about the plot. According to the few details shared at SDCC, it seems the film will partially be a coming-of-age story for T’Challa II, who was introduced as a child in Wakanda Forever.
Jonsson certainly has some big shoes to fill, and there are sure to be plenty of expectations for his performance. Not only that, but he’ll also be in a movie that features a number of talented actors, including Denzel Washington, who revealed his involvement in 2024. So it warms my heart to know that as Jonsson gets his bearings, Duke (and likely others) will give him the space to spread his wings and contribute to the vision.
Black Panther 3 arrives in theaters on December 15, 2028 and, in the meantime, stream the first two films with a Disney+ subscription. Also, see Winston Duke and Letitia Wright reprise their roles as M’Baku, respectively, in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.