Who is David Jonsson? Meet the British actor cast as the new Black Panther
A new king of Wakanda has been crowned.
Marvel announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 that David Jonsson has been cast to play the new Black Panther in Ryan Coogler’s third film, which will be released in December 2028.
Jonsson began his acting career in 2016 and has been featured in several prominent films, including “The Long Walk” and “Alien: Romulus.”
Keep scrolling to find out more about Jonsson’s early life and career.
His upbringing
Jonsson was born in September 1993 in London.
His father worked as an IT engineer at Heathrow Airport and his mother was employed by the Metropolitan Police.
Jonsson is the youngest of four children.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and graduated in 2016.
Acting roles
Jonsson rose to fame playing Augustus Sackey in the BBC Two and HBO drama series “Industry” from 2020 to 2022.
He gained widespread critical acclaim portraying Dom in the romantic-comedy film “Rye Lane.”
Jonsson expanded his career into major blockbusters: a role as Andy in the sci-fi horror film ”Alien: Romulus” in 2024 and his portrayal of Pete McVries in “The Long Walk” the following year.
Jonsson has also starred in “Wasteman,” “Bonhoeffer,” “The Road Trip” and many more.
In 2025, Jonsson won the rising star award at the British Academy Film Awards for his role in “Alien: Romulus.”
He also won best actor in a play at the Black British Theatre Award in 2022 and the Robert Altman Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in 2026.
Dating life
Jonsson has kept his dating life private.
He has not been publicly linked to anyone.
Joining ‘Black Panther’
At the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026, director Ryan Coogler announced that Jonsson will be playing Prince T’Challa II, the grown son of T’Challa, in the third installment of the “Black Panther” franchise.
“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,” Coogler said onstage.
“And today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up [and] he comes of age,” he added.
Jonsson then took the stage as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
“I want to say thank you so much,” the British actor said.
“Thank you Ryan, thank you Kevin [Feige], thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join,” he added.
“I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”
King T’Challa was previously played by Boseman in the first “Black Panther” film in 2018.
Sadly, Boseman died after secretly battling cancer in August 2020. He was 43 years old.
In the 2022 sequel, Black Panther was played by T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, portrayed by Letitia Wright.
