Black Pantherdirector Ryan Coogler has shared an update on his upcoming movie projects, and it seems likeBlack Panther 3is likely to happen sooner rather than later. TheMCUis heading toward the end of the Multiverse Saga withAvengers: Doomsday,Spider-Man: Brand New Day, andAvengers: Secret Wars.All upcoming MCU moviesreleased within 2025 and 2027 will have to match these films' extremely high anticipation.
Sequels such asBlack Panther 3,Doctor Strange 3, andThor 5are likely to be released within the next five years due to the high popularity of the characters and the movies' potential connection to the multiverse.Black Panther 3, in particular, is the project with the most likelihood of arriving in Phase 6, as Ryan Coogler has openly revealed that he’s working on theBlack Pantherthreequel.Now, that possibility has increased.
Ryan Coogler Recently Addressed A Potential Sinners Sequel
Ryan Coogler May Not Make A Sinners Sequel Anytime Soon
Following the critical and commercial success of his 2025 horror movie,Ryan Coogler saidSinnerswas always meant to be a self-contained projectthat felt"complete"without the need for a sequel. Though Coogler doesn’t outright reject the possibility of a sequel, he also describesSinnersas"a break from franchise filmmaking.“After this fruitful break, Coogler might return to franchise filmmaking withBlack Panther 3.
Refreshed afterSinners' success, Coogler may tackleBlack Panther 3with undivided attention
The MCU’sBlack Panthermovies are huge projects that require a different approach to a more director-driven film likeSinners. That said,Black PantherandBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverare a very personal part of Ryan Coogler’s career, as they made a huge impact on pop culture and honored the legacy of Coogler’s close friend and collaborator Chadwick Boseman. Refreshed afterSinners' success, Coogler may tackleBlack Panther 3with undivided attention.
Black Panther 3 Is Currently In Development
Black Panther 3 Might Be Heading To Pre-Production Soon
Discussion aroundBlack Panther 3skyrocketed when Denzel Washington revealed he had been cast in theBlack Panthersequel. A few months later,Ryan Coogler confirmed he’d wanted to work with Washingtonfor a long time, and said that he has"been talking to him about this for a long time.“Speaking toVariety, Coogler confirmed that the wait forBlack Panther 3would"not [be] long.”
Ryan Coogler has been busy withSinners' release and distribution after his and Washington’sBlack Panther 3comments. While nothing has been confirmed about the its script,Black Panther 3is likely to be in the development stage, with Coogler potentially finishing the script in 2025 or 2026.If Coogler doesn’t take up any new project soon, he could reveal thatBlack Panther 3is ready to head into pre-production in late 2025 or early 2026.
Denzel Washington is all but confirmed forBlack Panther 3in an undisclosed role. Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Lupita Nyong’o are likely to return, and characters like Angela Basset’s Queen Ramonda, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, and John Kani’s T’Chaka could appear in flashbacks or in the Ancestral Plane. Followingthe events ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, Tenoch Huerta’s Namor could return as an ally to Wakanda.
When Black Panther 3 Could Fit Into The MCU Phase 6 Slate
Black Panther 3 Could Release Right Before Or Immediately After Secret Wars
Marvel Studios currently has an available release date for July 2027 — right betweenAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. If Ryan Coogler finishes the script and Marvel begins production soon,Black Panther 3could claim that spot. Releasing between the MCU’s next twoAvengersmovies would be a huge boost for theBlack Panthersequel and a great opportunity for it to become valuable connective tissue between both multiversal events.
Black Panther 3could also wait untilAvengers: Secret Warsconcludes the Multiverse Saga’s overarching storyline to deliver a more self-contained story. Similarly to Phase 2’sAnt-Manand Phase 3’sSpider-Man: Far From Home,Black Panther 3could serve as the epilogue for Phase 6. Otherwise, ifBlack Panther 3introduces a new character in the lead role, they could become the first hero of Phase 7 in 2028.
