Black Panther 3 Rumored as Shadows of Wakanda With Filming Expected to Begin This June

Well, after what felt like an eternity of Marvel fans yelling into the void (and getting nothing back), we finally have actual movement on Black Panther 3. Apparently, the gears are turning again, and if you trust production schedules, Wakanda is heading back in front of cameras sooner than most people thought.

When is Black Panther 3 Filming?

According to a fresh listing from the ever-reliable Film and Television Industry Alliance, Marvel shoots for Black Panther 3 are scheduled to kick off in London on June 15, 2026. Will that date hold? Who knows – it's Marvel, so anything can happen with these timetables, but that's the official story right now.

Just to keep us guessing, Marvel still hasn't locked in a release date. That said, with cameras set to actually roll, it's only a matter of time until Disney plants a flag somewhere on their upcoming calendar. Start your bets now.

A New Title & What's Next in Wakanda

The working title is pretty ominous: Shadows of Wakanda. Supposedly, the story will pick up after T'Challa's death and focus on Wakanda's vulnerabilities in a world without him. Basically, the rest of the Marvel universe has caught on that Wakanda isn't bulletproof anymore, which could be a setup for chaos (and, let's be honest, more CGI battle rhinos).

No shocker here, but Letitia Wright will be back as Shuri, donning the Black Panther suit and stepping up as both the tech genius and the country's new leader. If you watched Wakanda Forever, you already saw Shuri wrestle with the Panther mantle. Now it sounds like she's officially running the show – at least for the foreseeable future.

What really jumped out for me is how this timing fits into the larger, convoluted mess that is the upcoming MCU slate. If you track Marvel's next big event films, Avengers: Doomsday (this December) and Avengers: Secret Wars (the following year) are both on the horizon. The fact that Shuri has top billing in Black Panther 3 nudges us to believe that whatever happens in those two cosmic-smashup movies, Shuri makes it out in one piece. Or at least mostly in one piece – this is Marvel.

What About Those T'Challa Recast Rumors?

Meanwhile, Formula 1 driver turned actor Damson Idris decided to tackle the rumors that he might be taking on the Black Panther mantle. Here's how he put it (with classic PR smoothness):

'I am thankful to the fans. Of course, it's rumors, but I love that movie. I love the world.'

That's not a yes, but it's also not a 'stop asking, it's never going to happen.' Realistically, Idris isn't taking over for Shuri. But, considering we met T'Challa's son in the Wakanda Forever post-credits scene, it's not out of the question Idris could pop in as a future version – if Marvel wants to play that card down the road.

So Who's Actually in the Movie?

• Letitia Wright as Shuri (confirmed centerpiece)
• Denzel Washington in a brand-new, custom-written role by director Ryan Coogler (this is the only totally new casting they've actually said out loud)
• Danai Gurira probably coming back as Okoye
• Michaela Coel as Aneka and Florence Kasumba as Ayo likely rounding out the Dora Milaje
• Winston Duke could return as M'Baku, assuming he survives all the Avengers-level carnage

The only absolutely locked-in actors right now are Letitia Wright and Denzel Washington – but if past Marvel sequels are a guide, everyone else who isn't vaporized by the multiverse will probably show up too.

The big takeaway: after a long lull in updates, Black Panther 3 is very much alive, Shuri is officially Marvel's next lead hero, and for the first time, Denzel Washington's name is in the mix. As always, expect more casting chaos and probably a few fake-outs before we get to that premiere.