Black Panther 3 to Make Marvel History With Film Format

Ryan Coogler has revealed that Black Panther 3 will become the first Marvel Studios film to be shot entirely on large-format celluloid, marking a significant departure from the studio’s long-established digital production process. The announcement was made during San Diego Comic-Con, where Coogler also confirmed that David Jonsson will lead the film as the new Black Panther. The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Dec. 15, 2028.

Marvel Studios has never produced a feature using large-format celluloid since its launch in 2008. The studio’s earliest films, including Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 and Thor, were photographed on standard 35mm film before Marvel transitioned to a fully digital production pipeline beginning with Iron Man 3 in 2013. Director of photography John Toll previously told Shutterstock’s Premium Beat that “part of the whole attraction of the digital world is convenience, especially for big visual effects movies.” Although Eternals adopted a distinctive visual style, it was also captured digitally.

Large-format celluloid records substantially more image area than traditional 35mm film, providing higher image resolution and a distinctive cinematic appearance. Coogler joins a select group of filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson, who continue to embrace large-format film in an industry dominated by digital production. Nolan’s The Odyssey became the first feature filmed entirely with native IMAX 70mm cameras, while Coogler previously used large-format film for Sinners, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 98th Academy Awards and grossed more than $370 million worldwide.

Coogler returns to direct the third Black Panther installment, with David Jonsson taking over the mantle as the adult T’Challa II, the grown-up son of T’Challa who was introduced as a child in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Jonsson’s previous credits include HBO’s Industry, Alien: Romulus, Rye Lane and Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk.

The cast will also see Letitia Wright reprise her role as Shuri and Winston Duke return as M’Baku. Denzel Washington is set to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in an undisclosed role, following his confirmation of the casting in 2024. Black Panther 3 is slated for release after Avengers: Doomsday, which opens on Dec. 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for Dec. 17, 2027.