Angela Bassett has given her blessing to David Jonsson as the next Black Panther. Asked about the casting at FX’s American Horror Story: 13 premiere event in New York on Wednesday night, the actress who played Queen Ramonda in both Black Panther films said she cannot wait to see what he does with the role.
The Queen speaks! Does #AngelaBassett approve of #DavidJonsson as the #MCU’s new #BlackPanther? And does she have any words of encouragement for him? 👑
— ScreenRant (@screenrant) September 24, 2026
“Ooh, come with it! I cannot wait,” Bassett said. “I was so over the moon to hear that, as a fan. I know the fans were happy as well. It’s exciting!”
Asked whether Jonsson has her approval, Bassett said, “Yes, he does!”
Who David Jonsson Is Playing
Ryan Coogler revealed Jonsson’s casting in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. Jonsson will play the grown son of T’Challa in Black Panther 3, the character Toussaint, who was introduced as a child in the credits scene of 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In that scene, Nakia revealed to Shuri that she and T’Challa had a son before his death.
That makes Bassett’s Ramonda the character’s grandmother. Ramonda led Wakanda through the loss of T’Challa and died in Wakanda Forever while protecting Riri Williams.
Jonsson is best known for 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus and the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk. He spoke briefly when he took the Comic-Con stage. “Thank you, Ryan, thank you, Kevin, thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join,” he said. “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.”
What We Know About Black Panther 3
Coogler returns to direct the third film in the series. Letitia Wright is back as Shuri, who took up the Black Panther mantle in Wakanda Forever, and Winston Duke returns as M’Baku. Production has not started yet.
Black Panther 3 opens in theaters December 15, 2028, and Coogler has said it will be shot on large format film. Wright will appear as Shuri before then in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens December 18.
Bassett’s Place In The Franchise
Bassett played Ramonda in 2018’s Black Panther and returned for Wakanda Forever, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. It was the first acting Oscar nomination for any performer in a Marvel Studios film.
Her night in New York was for another Disney-owned franchise. Bassett is back as the voodoo queen Marie Laveau in American Horror Story: 13, which premieres tonight, September 24, at 9 p.m. ET on FX, with episodes streaming on Hulu. The first three episodes arrive on premiere night.
Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are both streaming now on Disney+.
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