The announcement was made during Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.
Director Ryan Coogler revealed that the 32-year-old will lead the third Black Panther film, following in the footsteps of the late Chadwick Boseman.
Mr Coogler said: “The last time we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who is the son of the character that the great Chadwick Boseman played, our T’Challa, in that film.
“And today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up [and] he comes of age.”
Stepping on stage to a standing ovation, Jonsson expressed his gratitude.
He said: “Thank you Ryan, thank you Kevin [Feige], thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour and the privilege and the blessing to join.
“I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking.
“But believe me, the honour is entirely mine.”
The panel also revealed that Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in an upcoming film in 2028, directed by Shawn Levy.
Who is David Jonsson as star revealed as Black Panther
Born on September 4, 1993, Mr Jonsson grew up in Custom House in east London.
He is the youngest of four siblings and describes his heritage as Creole, with family roots in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean, and Sweden.
David Jonsson has already earned critical acclaim through some of his TV and film performances (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
His father worked as an IT engineer at Heathrow Airport and his mother served with the Metropolitan Police.
Following academic struggles and a school transfer, Jonsson told his mother he wanted to pursue acting.
After completing his GCSEs, he spent two years in New York City before returning to London at 18.
He joined the National Youth Theatre and earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he graduated in 2016.
David Jonsson movies and TV shows
Mr Jonsson began his career on the West End and won a Black British Theatre Award for his 2021 performance in “and breathe…”.
He is widely recognised for his role in the BBC Two and HBO series Industry, which aired from 2020 to 2022.
He also had a main role in the Paramount+ series The Road Trip, and a recurring role in series 2 of British espionage thriller Deep State.
His film credits include Rye Lane (2023), Alien: Romulus (2024), and The Long Walk (2025).
In 2025, Jonsson won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and received a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the British Independent Film Awards for his role in Wasteman.
Wasteman is a gritty British prison thriller starring Jonsson as Taylor and Tom Blyth as Dee.
It follows a long-term inmate nearing potential parole whose fragile routine is upended by a volatile new cellmate.
The third Black Panther film, directed by Ryan Coogler, will be released in cinemas in 2028.
What do you think of David Jonsson being cast as Black Panther? Let us know in the comments.