Ryan Coogler has confirmed that Black Panther 3 is his next project, putting months of speculation to rest. While speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event, the acclaimed filmmaker made the announcement directly.
“Yeah, we’re working on it hard,” Coogler said. “It’s my next movie.”
Coogler’s confirmation marks the beginning of the franchise’s highly anticipated third chapter. The director has been the creative force behind the entire Black Panther series from the start, helming the record-breaking 2018 original and the emotional 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
His vision shaped the franchise’s worldbuilding, cultural resonance, and character depth, helping turn Wakanda into one of Marvel’s most beloved cinematic universes.
Marvel is rumored to be eyeing a February 2028 release window, with production expected to begin in early 2027. Although Marvel hasn’t released official details about Black Panther 3, several industry production trackers list the project as being in early development under the working title “Shadows of Wakanda.” However, there’s currently no verified evidence that this will be the final title.
While story details remain under wraps, the cast already includes major star power. Coogler recently confirmed that he has "every intention" of casting Denzel Washington in a new role written specifically for him. There are also rumors surrounding Damson Idris, who is reportedly in talks to join the film, though Marvel has not yet made an official announcement.
The core cast from Wakanda Forever is expected to return, including Letitia Wright as Shuri, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda in potential flashbacks.
As with the previous two films, Coogler is expected to guide both the narrative direction and the emotional continuity of the story following the loss of original star Chadwick Boseman.