Who’s in Black Panther 3? Every confirmed star — plus the likely MCU returnees

It’s finally here – a proper update on Black Panther 3, straight out of San Diego Comic-Con, and yes, Ryan Coogler took the stage himself for this one. If you’ve been wondering who’s actually coming back for Marvel’s next Wakandan adventure (and who’s cropping up that might surprise you), we’ve now got a few concrete answers…and a couple of big question marks, too.

Black Panther 3 is hitting cinemas on 15 December 2028.

So, let’s run through what’s actually confirmed so far, and what’s still in the realm of wishful thinking or Marvel secrecy.

Who's Back For Part 3?

First, the main returning cast. Letitia Wright (Shuri, current Black Panther) and Winston Duke (M'baku) are both locked in. No shocker there, as they’re basically the beating heart and muscle of post-T'Challa Wakanda. Before they start up on Black Panther 3, both will also pop up in Avengers: Doomsday, which lands this 18 December – so Marvel’s making sure the continuity keeps rolling along.

Now, here’s a genuinely interesting addition: British actor David Jonsson is joining the cast. He’ll be playing none other than Prince T’Challa II (or Toussaint, if you caught the Wakanda Forever mid-credits reveal), who’s T’Challa’s son and the next Black Panther. Jonsson’s recently had a bit of a buzz around him from Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus, and The Long Walk, so this feels like a real step up for his career. Prince T’Challa’s quiet introduction back in 2022 is now paying off with a proper role – which probably means big changes coming for the franchise's dynamic.

The Denzel Rumour Mill

This is where things get a bit murky, or more accurately, where Marvel likes to keep things murky. Ryan Coogler has previously brought up Denzel Washington being involved in Black Panther 3, and there’s even word he’s written a role specifically for him. But for whatever reason, Marvel still haven’t actually confirmed that Denzel is in the film – so technically, we’re all still in the dark. If Washington does appear, it would be both his first trip into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his first direct team-up with Coogler, which would be a pretty killer combo. Details about who he’d play are under wraps (probably a ‘check back after the teaser’ situation) and, typical Marvel, nothing has been officially announced.

Likely Returns And Spectre Cameos

Just because the only cast officially confirmed are Wright, Duke and Jonsson, that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing a bunch of others. If you’re betting, it’s basically a dead cert that Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), and Florence Kasumba (Ayo) will all return – they’ve been with the series so long it’d be odd to cut them out now.

And then there’s the ‘is Marvel pulling a ghost cameo’ question. Both Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger) and Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda) had characters die in the previous films, but thanks to the magical Ancestral Plane, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch for them to show up for some spiritual guidance scenes. Wouldn’t be the first time Marvel dodged the reality of death for a surprise appearance or two.

• Letitia Wright and Winston Duke return as Shuri and M’baku
• David Jonsson joins as Prince T’Challa II/Toussaint
• Potential for Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Florence Kasumba – but not confirmed yet
• Denzel Washington’s involvement teased but unconfirmed
• Possible Ancestral Plane returns for Michael B. Jordan and Angela Bassett