Superhero movie fans will officially return to Wakanda in "Black Panther III", the newest entry in the Marvel franchise, the studio announced at Comic-Con on Saturday.
British actor David Jonsson will play the lead role in the film, due for release on December 15, 2028.
Known for his performances in the HBO series "Industry" and the 2025 film "The Long Walk", Jonsson joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the son of T'Challa, the original Black Panther superhero played by Chadwick Boseman.
Boseman, who rose to global fame with 2018's "Black Panther", died in 2020 at the age of 43 from colon cancer.
Marvel unveiled the sequel before thousands of fans in Comic-Con's famed Hall H, with Jonsson appearing on stage to celebrate the announcement.
"Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honour 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 added.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who directed the first two "Black Panther" films, will return to helm the third instalment.
"Today is extra special", Coogler said, joining Jonsson and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige on stage.
Coogler said the film will follow T'Challa's son as he comes of age and steps into his father's superhero legacy.
The first "Black Panther" film grossed $1.3 billion worldwide after its 2018 release and featured a cast including Michael B Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright.
Marvel also revealed that Ryan Gosling will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider", which is scheduled for release 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 the highly anticipated "Avengers: Doomsday".
The studio brought directors Anthony and Joe Russo to the stage, along with several cast members including Robert Downey Jr, who will portray villain Victor Von Doom.
The film will continue the story after 2019's "Endgame", bringing together characters from the X-Men, Avengers, Black Panther and Fantastic Four franchises.
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 favourite studio.
"We're all here for the same reason we love it, we love the feeling we get when we come to Hall H", fan Wally from Orange County said.
"It was worth it, it was better than expected... I'm speechless". — AFP
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