While Blade continues to stall in development hell and Deadpool 4 hasn’t yet made it past the planning stage, Marvel Studios is placing its bets on a more promising return to Wakanda. According to a new report from Variety, Black Panther 3 isn’t just officially moving forward, but has emerged as a priority project for the studio, and will be one of the first to launch post-Secret Wars alongside X-Men — with Ryan Coogler back at the helm and Denzel Washington confirmed to join the cast. It’s full steam ahead. Coogler offered a brief but definitive update at the Ironheart world premiere last month, the Disney+ series he executive produced. Asked where he’s at with Black Panther 3, Coogler simply said, “Working. We’re working.” No bells, no whistles — just a clear sign that the sequel is in motion while other Marvel titles remain in neutral. That statement alone carries weight. With Sinners — Coogler’s original drama — racking up critical acclaim and over four times its production budget at the box office, many assumed he’d ride that momentum into a non-Marvel project. But instead, he’s returning for what’s likely his final chapter in Wakanda before shifting gears. And Marvel seems more than happy to clear the runway. Although no official release date has been set, Black Panther 3 is expected to land after the events of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, allowing ample time to craft the next evolution of the story. And if the new casting news is any indication, it’ll be a major one. Coogler recently confirmed in a conversation with Carmelo Anthony that Washington will appear in the film — despite previous hedging from producer Nate Moore, who once called Washington’s involvement “a hope.” That hope is now real.
Who Else Will Be In ‘Black Panther’?

Who exactly Washington is playing remains under wraps, but his presence alone signals Marvel’s intention to treat this third installment as a major event. As for returning characters, Letitia Wright (Shuri) and Winston Duke (M’Baku) are expected to reprise their roles, provided they survive the multiversal chaos of Doomsday. And speculation continues to swirl around F1 phenom Damson Idris potentially taking over the mantle of Black Panther — though Marvel hasn’t commented. Namor (Tenoch Huerta), last seen forging an uneasy alliance with Wakanda in Wakanda Forever, may also return, depending on how the dust settles in Marvel’s next big team-up.