Meet David Jonsson: British Actor With Nigerian Roots Unveiled As Black Panther

British actor of Nigerian descent, David Jonsson, has been confirmed as the new Black Panther, stepping into one of Marvel’s most iconic roles six years after the death of Chadwick Boseman.

Marvel Studios made the announcement during its Comic-Con Hall H panel in San Diego on Saturday, revealing that the 32-year-old will play Prince T’Challa II (Toussaint), the son of T’Challa and Nakia, in “Black Panther 3,” which is slated for release on December 15, 2028, according to The Punch.

Here are key facts about the actor who will take on the Black Panther mantle:

Nigerian roots and London upbringing

David Jonsson was born on September 4, 1993, in London, England, and was raised in Custom House, East London.

He has described his heritage as Creole, with ancestral ties to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean and Sweden.

Jonsson is the youngest of four children, with one older brother and two older sisters.

His father worked as an IT engineer at Heathrow Airport, while his mother served in the Metropolitan Police.

His parents separated when he was 11, an experience he has described as life-changing.

“When you come from a broken home, it changes you,” he told The Guardian in an interview published on February 15, 2026.

He has also credited growing up in multicultural East London with helping shape both his identity and acting career.

Difficult childhood

Jonsson has revealed that he was expelled from school before enrolling at another institution in Hammersmith.

After earning his GCSEs, he spent two years in New York before returning to London, where he joined the National Youth Theatre and secured a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating in 2016.

Reflecting on his childhood in an interview with Hollywood Authentic published on February 20, 2026, he said, “Growing up in a single-parent household wasn’t easy at all, especially in East London. My brother and my sister did a lot of raising me.”

Career breakthrough

Although he started out on stage, Jonsson’s breakthrough came with his role as Augustus “Gus” Sackey in the BBC/HBO drama Industry, where he starred between 2020 and 2022.

To prepare for the role, he visited Eton College and the University of Oxford to better understand his character’s privileged upbringing.

Hollywood rise

Jonsson has continued to build his profile with acclaimed performances in Rye Lane (2023), Alien: Romulus (2024), The Long Walk (2025), and Wasteman (2025).

He is also attached to upcoming projects including Scandalous!, The Chaperones, and an untitled film by musician Frank Ocean.

Awards and recognition

In 2025, Jonsson received the BAFTA Rising Star Award, one of Britain’s highest honours for emerging actors.

Speaking about the recognition, he said, “That award meant more to me than anything… People getting behind me, and my work being received – it was proof.”

He has also earned nominations from the British Independent Film Awards, the Saturn Awards and several international critics’ groups.

He is also a producer

Away from acting, Jonsson has expanded into film production.

He served as executive producer on Wasteman and co-founded the production company greyarea., dedicated to developing character-driven stories.

Explaining the company’s vision, he said the stories they pursue “don’t live in black and white. They live in the contradictions, complexities, and all the emotional truths in between.”

Read Also: David Jonsson Cast As New Black Panther, Marvel Confirms 2028 Release

Long journey to success

Before breaking into the industry, Jonsson worked in pubs, bars and as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch while chasing his acting ambitions.

He has recalled spending lunch breaks on a bench in London’s Berkeley Square imagining a future in film.

“I used to think, ‘How am I going to get here?’”

Looking back, he said his younger self would probably tell him: “You’ve done well. Keep going.”

Selective with roles

Despite his growing success, Jonsson says he carefully chooses the projects he takes on.

“I’m not motivated by needing to work and do different things. I say no more than I say yes… It’s that feeling of doing it my way,” he said.

He has named actors Michael B. Jordan and filmmaker Colman Domingo among his career inspirations.

Future of Black Panther

Jonsson’s casting brings an end to years of speculation over who would continue the Black Panther legacy following Boseman’s death in 2020.

Instead of recasting Boseman’s T’Challa, Marvel opted to continue the story through his on-screen son, Prince T’Challa II, who first appeared as a child in the closing scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

The upcoming film will chronicle the young prince’s coming-of-age journey, with Ryan Coogler returning to direct, alongside cast members Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Denzel Washington.