Marvel announces 'Black Panther III' at Comic-Con

Superhero movie fans will officially return to the world of Wakanda in "Black Panther III," the newest entry in the Marvel film franchise, the studio announced at Comic-Con on Saturday.

British actor David Jonsson will play the lead role in the film, due out on December 15, 2028.

Known for his performances in the HBO television series "Industry" and the 2025 film "The Long Walk," Jonsson steps into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the son of T'Challa, the original Black Panther superhero played by actor Chadwick Boseman.

Boseman, who rocketed to fame in 2018's "Black Panther," died in 2020 at the age of 43 as a result of colon cancer.

Marvel announced the Black Panther three-quel with Jonsson appearing in front of thousands of fans at Comic-Con's famous Hall H.

"Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join," Jonsson told the crowd.

"I actually don't want to say too much because I want to let this screen do the talk," he said.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who directed the first two "Black Panther" films, will return to helm the third.

"Today is extra special," Coogler said, joining Jonsson and Marvel executive producer Kevin Feige on stage.

Coogler told the audience "Black Panther III" will follow T'Challa's son as he comes of age and follows in his father's superhero-sized footsteps.

The first "Black Panther" film grossed $1.3 billion when it was released in 2018, starring Boseman alongside a cast including Michael B. Jordan -- who won this year's Best Actor Oscar -- Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright, many of whom reprised their appearances in "Black Panther 2."

Another bombshell reveal was the welcome of Ryan Gosling to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he will take on the role of Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider," slated to hit theaters in 2028.

"Is this really happening?" Gosling said onstage alongside Feige.

Marvel Studios returned to Hall H after skipping last year's event, less than five months before the release of its highly anticipated "Avengers: Doomsday."

The studio brought to the stage Anthony and Joe Russo, the directors of the film, as well as several of its stars including Robert Downey Jr., who will play the villain Victor Von Doom.

The latest superhero film will pick up where 2019's "Endgame" left off, bringing together heroes and villains from X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four to duke it out once more.

Capes and masks of the nefarious Victor Von Doom were handed out before Marvel's presentation, transforming the audience into a green army.

Some fans had waited several nights to get into the venue to hear from their favorite studio.

"We're all here for the same reason we love it, we love the feeling we get when we come to Hall H," Wally, a man from neighboring Orange County who slept outside the venue for two nights, told AFP.

"It was worth it, it was better than expected... I'm speechless," he said after the presentation.

Earlier in the day, Apple TV made its debut in the coveted Hall H, offering a first look at its upcoming action comedy "Matchbox: The Movie."

The streaming platform unveiled some footage from the flick, which stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro.

The film is inspired by the famous toy cars, which Biel said she grew up playing with her brother.

"It's like being a kid again," she said.

Apple TV also offered an early look at its science-fiction production "Neuromancer," based on William Gibson's 1984 novel, and "Mayday," a comedy set during the Cold War starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh.

Comic-Con runs through Sunday, July 26.