One of the biggest news drops at the end of 2024 came days before the premiere ofGladiator 2, when starDenzel Washingtonrevealed thatRyan Cooglerwaswriting him a part inBlack Panther 3. There is a lot to unpack here; this was the first mention ofBlack Panther 3, which has still yet to be announced byMarvel Studios, but secondly, Washington in the MCU is something that people have been interested in seeing for years. Collider’sGarrett Blaneyrecently caught up with Marvel producerNate Mooreto promote the first MCU film of 2025,Captain America: Brave New World, and he asked if the team had nailed down specifics about Washington’s role, and Moore also provided an update on the status ofBlack Panther 3:
“We haven’t. And that’s what’s so funny about his comments. I do believehe actually called Ryan to apologizebecause, look, we should be so lucky. But, yeah, that’s super early days. Ryan is finishing his filmSinners, which is going to be amazing.We haven’t started really cracking story, so I know there’s a lot of speculation and casting rumors online. None of it’s true, which is fine. I think it speaks to, people’s passion for the property, which is great. But look, if andwhen we can figure out how to get Denzel in the MCU, that’s going to be an amazing day. And I couldn’t be more excited for whatPanther 3could be.”
We’re now more than two years removed from the release ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, which saw Shuri (Letitia Wright) take over the mantle of Black Panther from T’Challa, who was gracefully portrayed by the lateChadwick Boseman. Marvel has released more than its fair share of solo projects since the beginning of Phase 4, which has been one of the fan base’s biggest gripes with the Multiverse Saga, but now it appears the MCU is gearing up towards its next major events withAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars. With bothAvengersfilms already set for release in the next two years, it’s unlikely thatBlack Panther 3fits into the timeline anytime before then, but the confirmation of its existence hopefully implies that there’s a place for the many beloved characters in Wakanda even after the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Was One of the MCU’s Biggest Hits
Black Panther(2018) was a cultural phenomenon that earned a 96% score from critics and a 79% rating from general audiences onRotten Tomatoeson its way to grossing more than $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office and won three Oscars, and following it up was no small task, especially considering the devastating loss of Chadwick Boseman. However, Marvel Studios found tremendous success withBlack Panther 2, which earned scores of 84% from critics and 94% from audiences onRotten Tomatoes, and still grossed north of $800 million globally.Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveralso saw the MCU earn its first acting nomination from the Academy, which went toAngela Bassettfor her performance as Queen Ramonda, but she ultimately lost the award toJamie Lee Curtisfor her work inEverything Everywhere All at Once.
Black Panther 3is in development, but the film does not have an official release window. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates and watchBlack Panther: Wakanda ForeveronDisney+.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
