BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – OCTOBER 12: A fan dressed as Marvel Studios’ Black Panther poses during SOFA 2018, or Salon de Ocio y Fantasia, on October 12, 2018 in Bogota, Colombia. SOFA is one of Latin America’s largest cosplay festivals. (Photo by Juan Torres Padilla/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Ryan Coogler is once again pushing Marvel into unfamiliar territory. During this year’s San Diego Comic Con, the filmmaker revealed that Black Panther 3 will be shot entirely on large-format celluloid film, marking a historic first for Marvel Studios since its launch in 2008. The reveal arrived with two major confirmations: David Jonsson will take on the role of the new Black Panther, and the film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 15, 2028.
Why Black Panther 3 Is A First For Marvel Studios
The decision makes Black Panther 3 unlike any MCU movie before it. Large-format celluloid captures far more image area than traditional 35mm film, producing exceptional detail, depth and a visual scale associated with premium-format filmmaking. Marvel’s earliest releases — Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 and Thor — were photographed on standard 35mm photochemical film. Beginning with 2013’s Iron Man 3, however, the studio shifted into a fully digital capture and production workflow. As Iron Man 3 cinematographer John Toll told Shutterstock’s Premium Beat, “part of the whole attraction of the digital world is convenience, especially for big visual effects movies.” While Eternals stood apart for its visual language and production approach, it too was captured digitally.
With the move, Coogler places himself among a select group of modern filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson, who continue to champion large-format film at a time when Hollywood has largely embraced digital production. Nolan’s The Odyssey became the first movie ever shot entirely with native IMAX 70mm film cameras. Coogler has already shown his commitment to the format with Sinners, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 98th Academy Awards and brought in more than $370 million worldwide.
What Else Was Announced For Black Panther 3
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 25: (L-R) Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Letitia Wright, Ryan Coogler, David Jonsson and Winston Duke attend the Marvel Studios Panel at 2026 San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Getty Images for Disney
Coogler is returning to direct. David Jonsson is not exactly a new kid on the block, having already featured in HBO drama Industry, sci-fi flick Alien: Romulus, the wonderfully underrated romance Rye Lane and Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. In Black Panther 3, he will play T’Challa’s grown-up son, taking on the Black Panther mantle as the adult T’Challa II, who was introduced as a child in Wakanda Forever.
Letitia Wright and Winston Duke are confirmed to return as Shuri and M’Baku. Denzel Washington will appear in a currently undisclosed role which would also be his MCU debut, which he had confirmed himself back in 2024. Black Panther 3 releases December 15, 2028, arriving after both Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027).
