David Jonsson vs Damson Idris: Fans divided over Marvel's casting of new Black Panther

At SDCC, Marvel announced Jonsson's casting as T'Challa's son in 'Black Panther 3' which is set to release in 2028

Marvel Studios' decision to cast David Jonsson as the next Black Panther has generated mixed reactions across social media, with fans divided over the future of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most iconic characters.

The online response came following the studio's announcement at San Diego Comic-Con.

During the Hall H presentation, director Ryan Coogler confirmed that Jonsson, known for Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, will portray the adult son of T'Challa in Black Panther 3.

The character was first introduced as a young child during the closing moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and is set to inherit the Black Panther mantle when the film is released on December 15, 2028.

The announcement quickly sparked debate online, with fans expressing a range of opinions about Marvel's casting choice.

Many welcomed Jonsson's selection, praising his recent performances and describing him as a strong fit for the role.

One fan wrote, “David Jonsson as T’Challa Jr is such great news, absolutely amazing actor.”

Another described the casting as “inspired casting”, while several others pointed to Jonsson's performance in The Long Walk as evidence that he was ready to lead a major Marvel film.

Others, however, said they had expected Damson Idris to take on the role instead.

“I thought it was going to be Damson Idris,” one fan commented.

Another added, “I wanted Damson Idris as T’Challa, but David Jonsson will be really good too.”

A separate group questioned Marvel's broader creative direction, arguing that the studio should have recast T'Challa rather than introducing an adult version of his son.

“Just give me T’Challa… there is 0 reason to not recast at this point. No actor is bigger than the role,” one social media user wrote.

Another said, “Bring back T’Challa or no dice.”

Some fans also raised questions about the timeline, noting that T'Challa's son was introduced as a young child in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and wondering how the character would now be portrayed as an adult.

Marvel has not publicly addressed the online discussion surrounding the casting.

The announcement nevertheless marks a significant new chapter for the Black Panther franchise as the series continues following the death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020.