Marvel Studios blew the roof off Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con with the announcement that David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus, Industry) will lead Black Panther 3 as Prince T’Challa II (Toussaint).
However, the real magic happened long before the stage lights came up. MCU mastermind Kevin Feige revealed that Marvel had been sitting on this massive casting secret for nearly six months—all thanks to a covert meeting arranged by director Ryan Coogler.
"I Felt It in My Soul": The Secret Meeting
According to Feige, Marvel hadn't even begun a formal search for an actor to play the grown-up son of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. The plan was to wait until Coogler wrapped his awards push for his movie Sinners before sitting down to discuss the future of Wakanda.
Coogler, however, had other plans. After tracking Jonsson’s breakout performances, the director knew he couldn't wait.
"A month and a half or so before that process, Ryan called me and said, 'I found him.' ... He had a secret meeting with him under a cloak of darkness in a hotel somewhere, and called me afterwards and said, 'He's the guy. I felt it in my soul. He's a good man, and he is the next Black Panther.'"
— Kevin Feige
Feige admitted that hearing Coogler's conviction gave him chills and brought him to tears. The deal was done right then and there.
Who is David Jonsson?
DAVID JONSSON
For fans who have been following the British actor's sharp rise, Coogler's instinct makes total sense. Jonsson turned heads as Gus in HBO's Industry before delivering a standout performance as the android Andy in 2024's Alien: Romulus.
Key Details — Black Panther 3
Carrying the Legacy Forward
First introduced as a child living in Haiti at the end of 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Toussaint represents both the future of Wakanda and the living legacy of King T'Challa. Jonsson’s casting as an adult signals a significant time jump, setting up a coming-of-age story centered on a young prince stepping out of his father's shadow to claim the throne and the mantle.
With Coogler returning to direct—shooting natively on 70mm film—Black Panther 3 is shaping up to be one of the most emotional and cinematic chapters in Marvel history.