Marvel news: ‘Sinners’ director Ryan Coogler helming ‘Black Panther 3’ in MCU return

Following on from the critical darling Horror/Western hybrid Sinners, director Ryan Coogler is returning to the world of Wakanda for a third time.

Coogler has confirmed that Black Panther 3 will be his next gig, completing a trio of MCU projects.

Film News Blitz’s RC Stacey breaks down this Marvel-lous announcement.

Coogler confirms Marvel return

Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles Sinners panel, Coogler confirmed to Mike Fleming Jr. that Black Panther 3 is his next project.

“If it was anybody but you, I would say, ‘I can neither confirm or deny,'” he said, before conceding, “We’re working hard. Yeah, it’s the next movie.”

While details are scant at the time of publication, Marvel has slated a February 18 2028, release for an ‘untitled project’, which would place the third film of the franchise firmly in its Phase 6 plans, or perhaps beyond.

Releasing after the highly anticipated double whammy of Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) could indicate the blockbuster behemoth’s plans for the future.

Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), with a cumulative worldwide gross of $2.19 billion, comprise a critically acclaimed and fan-favourite franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The opening flick starred the late great Chadwick Boseman in the lead as T’Challa, a mantle that was passed to Letitia Wright’s Shuri after he passed from cancer.

Whether Wright will return remains to be seen, but what we do know is that Coogler has been writing a role for acting legend Denzel Washington, a fact the veteran actor let slip during his promotional activities for Gladiator II last year. 

Film News Blitz joins the fanfare of a third Black Panther instalment, especially as Marvel Studios makes waves to steady an uncertain and commercially poor period over the last few years.

Are you excited for a return to Wakanda?

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