Marvel Studios has officially announced that Black Panther 3 is in development. This confirmation follows an unintentional reveal by Denzel Washington last month. The announcement coincides with the news that longtime Marvel executive Nate Moore will be leaving the studio early next year. However, before his departure, Moore will oversee the development of the third installment in the Black Panther franchise.

Reflecting on his time at Marvel, Moore shared, “Nearly everything I know about producing I’ve learned from my time at Marvel Studios. I feel lucky to have worked with a group of people who love filmmaking and storytelling as much as my Marvel colleagues and the cast and crew of our films. But I couldn’t be more excited to apply my experience and passion for film towards theatrical movies in all genres, including returning to the world of Wakanda for Black Panther 3.”

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito praised Moore’s contributions, stating, “Nate is a fantastic executive and colleague as well as a wonderful friend to all of us here at Marvel Studios. He has been a core member of our team since 2010, and his influence will continue to reverberate in our storytelling. Although we’ll miss him a great deal, we look forward to watching what he does next while also having the good fortune of working with him in a new way on our next Black Panther movie.”

Denzel Washington’s Role in Black Panther 3

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During a promotional tour for Gladiator 2 last month, Denzel Washington inadvertently revealed his involvement in Black Panther 3. Speaking on Australia’s Today show, he mentioned that director Ryan Coogler was crafting a role for him in the upcoming film. This revelation came before Marvel’s official announcement.

Discussing his career plans, Washington said, “I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70. After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I’m going to do the film Othello. After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”

Washington later apologized for prematurely sharing details about the project. During an appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, he recounted, “I called [Ryan Coogler] and apologized for talking about the movie, and right there sitting with him was his beautiful wife. He’s still Ryan, humble and full of ideas. Whatever he writes, I’ll read.”

The Legacy of Black Panther

The original Black Panther film, released in 2018, starred the late Chadwick Boseman as the titular character and became a cultural and critical phenomenon. Its sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), honored Boseman’s legacy following his untimely passing in 2020, incorporating his death into the storyline. With the third installment now officially confirmed, fans can look forward to the continued evolution of Wakanda’s rich narrative and the impactful storytelling that has defined the franchise.