Ryan Coogler Confirms That Black Panther 3 Will Be His Next Film

Speaking at an industry event, Sinners director Ryan Coogler revealed Black Panther 3 is in active development.

Still riding high on the incredible success of his period vampire romp, Sinners, director Ryan Coogler has said that his next film will be Black Panther 3 for Marvel.

Coogler was speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event when he casually revealed that the sequel is in development, responding to a direct question about the project with, “If it was anybody but you, I would say, ‘I can neither confirm or deny,’ but we’re working on it hard. … Yeah, it’s the next movie.”

Coogler directed 2018’s Black Panther, which starred Chadwick Boseman as the titular T’Challa, King of Wakanda, as well as the first sequel, 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Boseman tragically died of colon cancer in 2020, and so Wakanda Forever saw Letitia Wright’s Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, take over the Black Panther’s costumed identity.

Whether Wright will return is unknown at this time, although it’s a safe bet, as is the participation of Coogler frequent flier Michael B. Jordan, who has appeared in every single one of the director’s films so far.

However, one cast member we can confirm is living legend Denzel Washington. The Equalizer star announced his involvement in Black Panther 3 last November on Australia’s Today show when he was doing the rounds to promote Gladiator II.

“I don’t know how many more films I’m gonna make, probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done. I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70,” he said. “After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler’s writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I’m gonna do the film Othello. After that, I’m gonna do King Lear. After that, I’m gonna retire.”

Seems like he’ll be around for a bit with that slate, though.