Denzel Washington is set to star in Black Panther 3, director Ryan Coogler confirmed in a new interview.
Last year Marvel officially confirmed that Black Panther 3 is in development, and that it is planning for a February 2028 release. The news came as longtime Marvel executive Nate Moore announced he’s set to leave the studio in 2025 but will be working on Black Panther 3 before he departs.
Now, Coogler said that Washington is set to have a role in the upcoming Black Panther movie, saying that the actor is like “family”. While appearing as a guest on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Coogler told host Carmelo Anthony that he’s been trying to work with Washington “since day one”.
“Denzel is family at this point…I’ve been trying to work with him since day one,” he said. “I think he’s the greatest living actor, and in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I’ve been talking to him about this for a long time.”
This comes after Washington let news slip last year that he was working with Coogler. While on the press tour for Gladiator 2 the actor revealed on Australia’s Today show that Black Panther 3 director Ryan Coogler was writing him a role for the movie – before any official announcement had taken place.
“I was surprised when he mentioned it, but it’s not like it’s not true,” the director said on the podcast.
Black Panther was released in 2018, starring the late Chadwick Boseman as the titular character. The first sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, came out in 2022, with Boseman’s death in 2020 written into the story.
In a four-star review, NME called the sequel a “magical memorial” to the actor, and said: “What really makes the film stand out is its mature atmosphere. This is about grief, more so than any other Marvel movie, and the legacy one leaves behind.
“‘To me – he was everything. My T’Challa,’ says Nakia, in a heartfelt moment that doubtless reflects the way many felt about Chadwick Boseman. The film finishes with a dedication to him – although maybe there was no need. Wakanda Forever is, itself, a fitting tribute to him.”
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