Wakanda’s next chapter is officially taking shape. Black Panther 3 will reportedly enter pre-production by the end of 2026, according to insider Jeff Sneider, putting Ryan Coogler’s third installment on track for its expected 2028 release.
What The Report Says
As ComicBook.com detailed, the update from TheInsneider’s Jeff Sneider did not include additional details, but the timing lines up cleanly with what Coogler himself has said. Speaking at a Deadline Contenders panel last November, the director confirmed Black Panther 3 is his next film: “We’re working on it hard. Yeah, it’s the next movie.”
A late-2026 pre-production start matters beyond Wakanda. With Avengers: Doomsday arriving this December and Avengers: Secret Wars standing as the only MCU theatrical release currently slated for 2027, Marvel needs marquee films ready to carry momentum into the post-Multiverse Saga era. A 2028 Black Panther 3 would be exactly that kind of anchor.
Denzel Washington And The Cast Question
The biggest name attached so far is Denzel Washington, whose involvement was first revealed by Washington himself when he mentioned Coogler was writing a part for him. Coogler has since backed that up, calling Washington “family at this point.” Marvel has not made the casting official, but it would rank among the studio’s biggest gets ever.
Letitia Wright’s Shuri, meanwhile, suits up next in Avengers: Doomsday this December alongside Winston Duke’s M’Baku and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, keeping Wakanda active on the biggest possible stage before Coogler’s solo sequel arrives. Wright has said she is “patiently waiting to hear from my director” on the threequel. Persistent rumors have also linked Damson Idris to a role in the franchise’s future, though nothing has been confirmed.
Coogler Stays In The Marvel Fold
The report also puts to rest any lingering questions about Coogler’s Marvel future following his production company’s television deal with Netflix. That pact covers TV development only; on the film side, Coogler remains in business with Marvel Studios, and after the massive success of Sinners, Black Panther 3 is where his attention turns next. For a franchise that has grossed over $2.2 billion across two films, that is very good news.
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