Info in Movie News | After many months of rumors about where the Wakandan story would be going, Black Panther 3 has been confirmed to be Director Ryan Coogler's next movie. Coogler revealed this information at the Sinners panel during Deadline's Contenders movie: Los Angeles, stating that he and Marvel Studios are already serious about the project. The news of the director's statement spread like wildfire among the fans who have been impatiently waiting for a continuation of Shuri's story.
According to Polygon, Marvel Studios has been slowly but surely setting the stage for Black Panther by a number of series before the release of Black Panther 3 that is to follow. These series such as Eyes of Wakanda which tells the story of the characters who guard ancient Wakandan artifacts and Ironheart whereby the character of Riri Williams after her introduction in Wakanda Forever, can be seen as setting the scene for the upcoming movie. Besides these series, the audience gets to see more and more how important Shuri is becoming in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in particular, after the previous movie where she was the one who took up the mantle of the Black Panther.
The increase of Shuri role as the protagonist marked a major shift of the series after the death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. Instead of casting a new actor to play the role of T’Challa, Marvel decided to develop the world of Wakanda from characters whom the fans know already and have the storylines well deepened. In Wakanda Forever, not only did Shuri's emotional change represent the core of the story, but it was also a memorial to Boseman and a passing of the baton for the franchise. The movie's heavy global box office haul, making USD 859 million worldwide, was a clear indication that the public were very much on board with this new turn.
Beyond Coogler’s return, early buzz for Black Panther 3 intensified in late 2024 when Denzel Washington casually revealed that the director was writing a role for him in the next movie. The secret was spilled while the actor was in Melbourne for his Gladiator II promotion and was later verified by Coogler himself. As a matter of fact, Marvel has not disclosed the identity of the character of Washington, however, his participation is an indication that the next movie could deal with adult themes or unveil characters holding the power that might change the political side of Wakanda.
The story is still a secret, but the different plot threads in Wakanda Forever give off the idea that the story could take those directions. The unstable political system of Wakanda after the death of T’Challa, the uneasy peace with Talokan after the fight with Namor, and the obligation to protect the Vibranium technology are among the next movie’s potentials to become main story arcs. Moreover, Shuri’s turning point as a scientist and leader will also allow the franchise to explore the theme of conflict between tradition and innovation, which has been a recurring motif in the series.
The big picture in MCU by Marvel is in accord with this direction. Shuri and M’Baku will be characters in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December 2026, which means that the movie will provide the necessary background for Black Panther 3. Since Marvel is famous for connecting characters’ stories across different projects, it is highly likely that their cameo in the next Avengers movie will determine the course of the story of Wakanda.
While Marvel Studios has yet to announce an official release date, industry insiders report that February 2028 is the internal target. The franchise has been using February as a significant window for major releases in the past, which not only goes well with Black History Month but also keeps the symbolic timing of the very first Black Panther movie intact. Hence, if the studio follows this tradition, it would be a very strong cultural and thematic message coming from the previous entries.
It means a lot to the fans that Coogler is back directing as it is a sign that we can expect the same look, feel, and cultural relevance. Since he was the one who made Wakanda one of the most amazing and believable worlds in the MCU, he now can do it even more by new faces, new problems, and the groundwork that the next Disney+ series will be setting. As it goes, with Shuri being more prominent and Washington maybe coming on board, the movie is turning into a huge Phase 7 milestone of the MCU.
Marvel fans would probably kill themselves in anticipation of a formal announcement by the studio which could be made at an event like San Diego Comic-Con, CinemaCon, or D23 Expo. Up till now only Coogler signing off on the project has been the reason of excitement resurgence around the next Wakanda chapter and the passing on of the Black Panther mantle.
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