Marvel Studios is set to continue one of its biggest franchises in the near future with the arrival of Black Panther 3. Following the debut of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, his 2018 solo film — which also served as the lead-in to Avengers: Infinity War — was a giant hit, earning $1.3 billion worldwide, critical acclaim, and Marvel’s first Oscar win.
After Boseman’s tragic death, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever became an emotional sequel for all. The follow-up proved to be wildly popular, grossing $859 million at the box office, receiving positive reviews, and continuing the franchise’s Oscar-winning ways. All the success made it a no-brainer for Marvel Studios to keep writer/director Ryan Coogler aboard to finish a trilogy.
While Marvel Studios and Disney have yet to officially date the film, Black Panther 3 is expected to arrive in 2028 after the culmination of the Multiverse Saga. That may still be a few years off, but the film is gaining momentum and, somehow, becoming even more exciting.
Ryan Coogler Is Working On The Black Panther 3 Script
Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther in his MCU movie
Black Panther 3 has been in the works since 2022. That is when the first reports surfaced that Coogler was in discussions with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about what they could do next in the franchise. The talented creative is returning to write and direct the sequel, which has left him currently in the process of writing the script.
Coogler hasn’t shared any information on the state of Black Panther 3’s screenplay to this point. It’s unclear if he has a rough outline, a finished first draft, or is closer to the final version. But he’s been working on it to some degree for over three years. All we really know at this point is he’s written a part for Denzel Washington, and that Black Panther 3 will be Coogler’s next movie.
Considering he turned around Wakanda Forever in just over four years, there will be a longer wait for Black Panther 3. The reasoning for that is partially tied to the film being part of the post-Avengers: Secret Wars plan. The other reason is that he stepped away from the MCU to make his original vampire movie, Sinners. That experience is directly responsible for Black Panther 3 gaining more hype.
Black Panther 3’s Ryan Coogler Is Now An Oscar Winner
Ryan Coogler stonefaced in close-up on the 2026 DGA Awards red carpetFaye’s Vision/Cover Images
Coogler enters the threequel as an Oscar winner after winning Best Original Screenplay for Sinners. That’s a huge deal for him, the movie, and the MCU.
He was already an acclaimed and celebrated filmmaker before joining the MCU, and the Black Panther movies have only made that more true. As one of Hollywood’s biggest, brightest, and most thoughtful directors over the last several years, his return for Black Panther 3 was always great news.
Now there will be a heightened level of prestige attached to the sequel after he was named among the Oscars 2026 winners. Coogler is at the height of his career following Sinners, so he should have carte blanche with Black Panther 3, or at least as much freedom as one can expect from within the Marvel machine.
Coogler has always had a knack for loading his films with rich and meaningful themes, strong characters, and more. Black Panther 3 should be more of the same. Now that he’s even a bigger name after Sinners, audiences should be even more excited that he’ll be back and to see what he creates.
Marvel Studios will also be able to take advantage of Coogler’s Oscar-winning ways. The marketing for Black Panther 3 will surely note that the film’s director is an Academy Award winner. Even though Coogler’s win came for his script and not his directing, Marvel can position the sequel as not only the next chapter in a $2 billion franchise but also the first film from the Oscar winner who made Sinners.
Between the film now marking Coogler’s first movie since winning an Oscar and the marketing opportunities this presents for Marvel Studios, Black Panther 3 firms up its position as one of the most exciting upcoming MCU projects.