Marvel Is Right To Wait On Black Panther 3

There is plenty of appetite for a Black Panther 3 even before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is released, but Marvel is justified in waiting for audience reaction to the second outing before making concrete plans for a third. Black Panther has become one of Marvel's most beloved characters since he was introduced to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War, but the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman has created uncertainty around the franchise's future given T'Challa was its center. Initial responses to pre-release screenings of Black Panther 2 have been positive, especially in its handling of grief around T'Challa and by extension Boseman, but whether that positivity translates to the general public remains to be seen.

That hasn't stopped Marvel from workshopping ideas for a Black Panther 3, however. Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore confirmed in an interview (via Collider) that potential story threads had been discussed: "There are certainly ideas we've floated around of what a third film could be if we get to make it. But until the movie comes out, we're a bit superstitious in that way. We don't want to count our chickens, because you never know what's going to happen." While forward planning ideas for Black Panther 3 is good practice in both a business and storytelling sense, avoiding concrete plans for a further sequel is a rational decision for the moment.

Marvel Can Learn Important Lessons From Black Panther 2

As popular as the Black Panther concept, its brilliant characters, and the nation of Wakanda itself are, and as gifted a director as Ryan Coogler is, without T'Challa and Boseman the sequel is still something of a step into the unknown. Wakanda Forever's latest trailer all but confirmed that Shuri is the new Black Panther, and Letitia Wright certainly has the magnetism, pathos, and charisma to pull off the daunting task of taking up Boseman's mask. On paper, she is a more than worthy successor, and it would be an incredible moment for a woman of color to represent the title role in an MCU film for the first time.

Whether Wakanda Forever and how it reorients itself without T'Challa and Boseman strikes as much of a chord as the first Black Panther remains to be seen, however. Cooglar, Moore, and the rest of the filmmakers are waiting to see whether the film's reportedly bold meditation on grief works for a general audience seeking a blockbuster experience. It is also possible that the film makes unexpected plot decisions that might not sit well with a mass market. There is still a possibility of multiple Black Panthers for example, and it would be unclear how an audience might respond to that idea. While the filmmakers will naturally maintain the courage of their convictions in Wakanda Forever's storytelling decisions, lessons can still be learned by how the film will be received.

Could Black Panther 3 Still Happen Before Avengers: Secret Wars?

Namor stares down Queen Ramonda in Wakanda Forever

There are still gaps in Marvel's schedule that Black Panther 3 could fill between Wakanda Forever's release and that of Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2026. There is currently a 10-month gap between The Marvels and Captain America: New World Order for example, from July 2023 and May 2024, although naturally that would demand either a very quick production turnaround, or for Marvel to undergo some release date Tetris to make room further on in the Multiverse Saga. There is also currently a year's gap between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, although the events of the former could complicate any MCU release bookended by both Avengers films. If it doesn't pan out before Secret Wars, having at least four years to workshop ideas after the Multiverse Saga concludes could be beneficial to Black Panther 3's development, allowing Marvel breathing room to create an interesting and brilliant new take on the property.