Report: Marvel’s New Actor Choice for Black Panther T’Challa Revealed
The future of Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is once again the center of speculation, with new reports pointing to how Marvel Studios could handle the role of T’Challa in the future.
Phase Four of the MCU closed with 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a film shaped not only by story but also by the loss of Chadwick Boseman. More than just a sequel, it served as both a tribute and farewell to the late actor and his celebrated character.
While Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) delivered major box office and fan engagement, the remainder of Phase Four, with the expectation of the No Way Home-tailwind-catching Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), struggled to match its success. Wakanda Forever ultimately served as the phase’s finale after earlier plans to end with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023). The decision positioned Wakanda Forever as both an emotional close and a symbolic capstone.
Boseman’s death in 2020 reshaped Marvel’s trajectory. The studio’s choice not to recast T’Challa sparked immediate debate. For some, it was a respectful tribute; for others, it left the story unfinished. The San Diego Comic-Con debut of Wakanda Forever’s first teaser in 2022 only intensified questions about how Wakanda’s story could continue without its king.
The response to not recasting the role was sharply divided. While some audiences supported Marvel’s direction, others voiced frustration, even labeling it “the biggest attack in Marvel history” and calling for boycotts of the sequel. Still, Wakanda Forever managed to hold its own financially, earning $859 million worldwide. Although it fell short of the original film’s $1.346 billion haul, the sequel still provided a significant close to what many viewed as an uneven phase.
Marvel is now shaping the next era for Wakanda. Kevin Feige has confirmed that Black Panther 3 is in the works, with longtime producer Nate Moore returning after stepping away following the rollout of Captain America: Brave New World (2025).
Rumors suggest Marvel is considering ways to bring T’Challa back, possibly through the Multiverse. One idea in circulation is that a new version of the character could arrive in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) or Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Those same projects are also where Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to make a return, not as Tony Stark, but as Victor Von Doom.
Fresh details about the timeline have also surfaced. “According to Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic, Black Panther 3, that’s February 2028. That’s going to start production at the top of 2027. And that will be in theaters February 2028,'” Comic Book Movie reported.
The date lines up with one of Marvel’s reserved slots on February 18, 2028, part of its upcoming Phase Seven plans. This coincides with Feige confirming that Avengers: Secret Wars will close the Multiverse Saga and set the stage for an MCU reset.
Multiple possibilities are on the table for the future of the mantle. Some believe Marvel could focus on an older version of T’Challa’s son, Toussaint, introduced in Wakanda Forever as the child of T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Fan-circulated names for a potential “New T’Challa” include John David Washington, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Aaron Pierre.
Another actor who has reportedly been considered is Aldis Hodge, known for his performance as Hawkman in DC’s Black Adam (2022) and most recently in Cross. Hodge has been speculated as a strong contender should Marvel choose to introduce a new iteration of the Wakandan hero.
Adding to the speculation, “On this week’s episode of The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider says he’s heard that Marvel ‘knows who they want’ to play the new Black Panther,” Comic Book Movie wrote. “Though he stresses that he doesn’t have any inside info, he believes it might be Alien: Romulus star David Jonsson.”
Jonsson’s name has been linked to Marvel before, and his performance in Alien: Romulus (2024) has reportedly drawn attention across the industry–not only that, but Disney also owns 20th Century Studios like it does Marvel Studios. “This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Jonsson’s name mentioned in connection with a potential Marvel role,” the report added, “and Marvel is not the only studio that’s said to be keen to work with him following his standout performance in Romulus.”
At the same time, uncertainty remains about whether Marvel will pursue a Multiversal T’Challa or elevate Toussaint within the Earth-616 continuity.
Outside of live-action, Wakanda’s story continues in animation. The recently released Eyes of Wakanda Disney+ series from Todd Harris and Ryan Coogler featured The Princess and the Frog star Anika Noni Rose voicing Black Panther. Noni Rose appeared in the final episode of the quartet, “The Last Panther.”
All four episodes of Eyes of Wakanda are streaming now on Disney+.
What direction should Marvel take with T’Challa’s future? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
