After the reveal of T'Challa's son in the first issue of Marvel Knights: The World to Come, some Marvel fans have suggested that it might be Ryan Gosling's time to join the Black Panther franchise.
Since at least 2018, an image showing Gosling's face photoshopped onto T'Challa, the lead character in Marvel's Black Panther series of films, has circulated online. It's a ridiculous image, and according to meme database Know Your Meme, it was inspired by the unfortunate trend of Black characters having their presence on movie posters diminished when released in certain markets in Asia.
But why are people referencing the meme again? The debut issue of Marvel Knights: The World to Come is to blame.
Is Ryan Gosling going to be in the next Black Panther?
As far as we know, Ryan Gosling has not been cast in the currently untitled third Black Panther movie. Besides, the mantle of Black Panther was occupied by T'Challa's sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), following the untimely death of lead star Chadwick Boseman. If Gosling is involved in a third Black Panther movie, somehow, he certainly won't be T'Challa. But the joke has resurfaced for a reason.
What's up with T'Challa's son in Marvel Knights?
In the first issue of Marvel Knights: The World to Come, fans were given a shock when T'Challa's son Ketema—no connection to T'Challa's son Touissant revealed in the MCU movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—made his debut.
The timeline is a little confusing to anyone unfamiliar with the world of Marvel comic books, taking place before the elder T'Challa dies, but Ketema appears to be white. His mother is presumed to be the Black character Monica Lynne, but he doesn't appear to be T'Challa's biological son. Instead, according to Comicbook.com, Ketema is a son from an earlier love interest of Lynne's.
Ketema is gunning for the throne of Wakanda, hence why the meme of Ryan Gosling has resurfaced once again.
But who has actually been cast in Black Panther 3?
So far, the only person we know will appear in Black Panther 3 for certain is Denzel Washington. Last year, Washington prematurely revealed that he'll be in the sequel to Wakanda Forever, which he later said he personally apologized to director Ryan Coogler for.
In an episode of 7PM in Brooklyn earlier this month, Coogler confirmed that he's talked to Washington about getting him involved. "I've been trying to work with him since day one," Coogler said. "I've been talking to him about this for a long time, and I was surprised when he mentioned it. But it's not like it's not true."
It's unclear who, if anyone, will reprise their roles in the sequel. But it's safe to assume that Letitia Wright will likely return as Shuri and Lupita Nyong'o could return as Nakia, at least. Winston Duke, who portrayed Jabari Tribe leader M'Baku in the first two films, also has a high likelihood of returning.
Will Ryan Coogler direct the third Black Panther movie?
Ryan Coogler has been involved with the Black Panther movie franchise from the beginning, directing and co-writing the first movie and its 2022 sequel. He is tentatively attached to helm the movie following the success of Sinners, which he recently said will never get a sequel.
What else do we know about Black Panther 3?
Next to no plot details are known about the next Black Panther movie, although the end of Wakanda Forever did give us a few hints about where the story could go. Shuri abandons the mantle of Wakanda's leader at the end of the second movie, which prompts M'Baku to call for a challenger to the throne. Nakia also revealed that she welcomed the child of T'Challa, which he was raising "away from the pressure of the throne."
So it would be a safe bet to assume that T'Challa's son will be involved in the next movie somehow.
When is Black Panther 3 due to hit theaters?
The status of Black Panther 3 remains unclear as of right now, as the state of the MCU is currently in a weird spot. The sixth phase of the MCU is set to kick off in July with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but the previous two movies in the cinematic universe—Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*—underperformed at the box office.
As a result, the schedule of MCU movies beyond the next Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland next year and the two planned Avengers movies is unclear. Black Panther 3 is in development, though, so fans can rest assured that it's coming eventually.