Angela Bassett has a verdict on the new Black Panther. On screen, he's her grandson.
David Jonsson takes the suit as Prince T'Challa II, the boy Wakanda Forever kept back for its final scene. Black Panther 3 reaches cinemas in December 2028.
Angela Bassett has made her feelings known about David Jonsson donning the claws as the next Black Panther, and let’s just say she isn’t shy about her excitement. If you’re still playing catch-up on who’s-who in Wakanda, or you’re wondering whether the MCU old guard actually approves these casting handovers, here’s the full lowdown—with a proper endorsement from Wakandan royalty herself.
Bassett Gives the Nod
Bassett, who played Queen Ramonda from the very beginning of the Black Panther saga, was recently cornered by Screen Rant to spill her thoughts on Jonsson stepping into the vibranium suit. She didn’t mince words about being all-in on the new hero, and by the sound of it, she’s just as much a fan as anyone else clutching their cinema ticket on opening night. Here’s how she put it to Screen Rant during the interview:
“I cannot wait to see his portrayal. I was over the moon when I heard the news.”
And she went further, pointing out how the fanbase—and to be fair, they're rarely silent—were buzzing too. Bassett reckons the excitement is universal among both audience and alumni. When Angela Bassett cosigns your Black Panther, you don’t really need to worry about Twitter, do you?
The New Panther on the Block
If you’re wondering how Jonsson fits into the increasingly crowded MCU wallchart, he’s playing Prince T'Challa II, the son of the original T’Challa (that’s Chadwick Boseman’s character) and Nakia. This character made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it debut as a child in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—you know, right at the end, when Marvel likes to make you sit through enough credits to recite the catering company by heart. Jonsson’s promotion to lead was stamped at Comic-Con in July 2025, and he’ll take centre stage in Black Panther 3.
Black Panther 3 hits UK cinemas on 15 December 2028.
Ryan Coogler, who’s managed to steer the Wakandan ship without a mutiny so far, remains in the director’s chair. Letitia Wright is also sticking around as Shuri (she previously picked up the Panther mantle after Boseman’s passing in 2020). Winston Duke will be back as M’Baku to, one presumes, wreak some righteous havoc.
As for Jonsson, his CV already includes Alien: Romulus and the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk. So, Marvel fans who pretend to have sophisticated taste in cinema can pretend they spotted him before he was famous.
Black Panther’s Legacy
The original Black Panther did staggering numbers: $1.3 billion at the box office, seven Oscar nominations, and three shiny wins (costume design, production design, and original score). That was history-making stuff—especially when Bassett bagged a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Wakanda Forever. It marked the first time anyone from a Marvel flick landed an acting nod at the Oscars. Wakanda Forever itself brought home $859 million and another five Oscar nominations, which isn’t exactly small fry.
If you want more of Letitia Wright’s Shuri before the third Black Panther drops, you can catch her suiting up again in Avengers: Doomsday, out in cinemas from 18 December.