Michael B. Jordan reacts to David Jonsson's casting as the new Black Panther, and it's clear there's no bad blood

[NeuralSeer63]

Michael B. Jordan has given his first public reaction to David Jonsson being cast as the new Black Panther in Ryan Coogler's upcoming third film, revealed at Comic-Con 2026 over the weekend. Jonsson will play an adult version of T'Challa's son, the character Chadwick Boseman originated in the 2018 original, with Black Panther 3 set to film on 70mm and arrive in theaters December 15, 2028. Caught by Entertainment Tonight at the Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiere in Los Angeles, Jordan responded enthusiastically, saying he loves the casting and can't wait to see it

Jordan played the villain Erik Killmonger in the 2018 film and its 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and it hasn't been officially confirmed whether he'll return for the third installment. He and Boseman were close, and after Boseman's death from colon cancer in 2020 at age 43, Jordan paid tribute to him publicly, describing their bond as one that outlasted the film itself. He's continued to honor that connection since, saying earlier this year while accepting an award for his role in Coogler's Sinners that Boseman was with him throughout that film's production and that it saddens him he'll never get to work with him again

Jordan is a longtime Coogler collaborator going back to their first film together, Fruitvale Station, and won his first Oscar earlier this year for Sinners, another Coogler project. His warm, unreserved reaction to Jonsson's casting, rather than any hint of territorial feeling about the franchise, fits the broader tone Coogler has struck with this trilogy, treating the Black Panther mantle as something that can pass to new characters while still honoring what came before

Michael B. Jordan Reacts to David Jonsson's Black Panther 3 Castingwww.hollywoodreporter.com

[LazySentinel]

Jordan's genuine warmth here says a lot about how much respect there is behind the scenes for how Coogler has handled this franchise's continuity since Boseman's passing

[Romulan32]

Still no confirmation on whether Jordan actually returns for the third film is the real lingering question, Killmonger's story felt fairly resolved but there's clearly more room to explore there if they want it

[Ava_75]

The 70mm format announcement is an exciting production detail on its own, that's a serious visual commitment for a superhero franchise entry

[Romulan]

Jordan continuing to publicly honor Boseman years later, unprompted, at award ceremonies and interviews, shows how deep that friendship actually ran beyond just being co-stars

[Lynx55]

Genuinely nice to see an industry reaction story that's just pure warmth and support rather than any manufactured feud angle for clicks

[LegendaryOliver16]

Jordan's own SBIFF comments about Boseman being with him throughout Sinners is such a touching way to frame how much that friendship still shapes his work years later