-
Marvel Studios confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con that Black Panther 3 is officially moving forward, targeting a December 15, 2028 theatrical release. Oscar-winning director Ryan Coogler will return to helm the film, closing out the trilogy he launched with the late Chadwick Boseman in 2018.
Letitia Wright is set to reprise her role as Shuri, the current Black Panther, while Industry and The Long Walk star David Jonsson joins the cast as T’Challa’s son—also named T’Challa—who appeared as a young boy at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever alongside his aunt Shuri and mother Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Denzel Washington remains attached in an undisclosed role.
Black Panther 3 Locked for 2028; Atlanta Film Community Eyes Possible Local Shoot Amid Marvel’s Shifting Production Habits
The announcement marks a major MCU milestone, but here in Atlanta—the longtime “Hollywood of the South”—it raises an immediate local question: Could the Peach State once again host a Black Panther production?
Atlanta’s Deep Roots in Wakanda
The original Black Panther was deeply tied to metro Atlanta. Principal photography took place extensively at what is now Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta) in Fayette County, Tyler Perry Studios, and practical locations across the city. Atlanta stood in for Oakland (Wheat Street Towers near the Sweet Auburn district and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park), the Museum of Great Britain (High Museum of Art), United Nations interiors (Atlanta City Hall), South Korean streets and markets (Metropolitan Business and Arts District), and expansive Wakandan landscapes (Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills and a Stockbridge quarry).
Wakanda Forever also relied heavily on Georgia facilities and crews. Those productions poured money into local businesses, employed thousands of Georgia film workers, and cemented Atlanta’s reputation as a go-to hub for big-budget Marvel work alongside titles like Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, Captain America: Civil War, and more.
Ryan Coogler has spoken positively about his time filming here, and the city’s diverse architecture, experienced crews, and infrastructure remain strong assets.
Could Atlanta Be Back in the Mix for Black Panther 3?
Industry reports from early 2026 pointed toward London as a likely primary base for the third film, consistent with Marvel’s broader recent pivot. Starting around the Fantastic Four era and continuing with subsequent projects, the studio has shifted significant production volume to the United Kingdom, citing lower labor costs and overall economics even when weighed against Georgia’s competitive film tax credit. Trilith Studios, once packed with Marvel stages, has seen far less activity from the studio in recent cycles, contributing to a wider slowdown in Georgia’s film spending after its peak years.
That said, nothing is finalized for Black Panther 3 beyond the release window and key creative attachments. Coogler’s involvement, the franchise’s proven Atlanta track record, the need for varied locations (urban, rural, and studio-built African-inspired environments), and Georgia’s still-generous incentives leave the door open for at least partial filming here. Second-unit work, specific practical locations, or even primary stages remain possible, especially if story needs or scheduling align with available Georgia capacity.
Local film officials, crew unions, and studio operators at Trilith, Tyler Perry Studios, and other facilities will almost certainly make the case. Past Black Panther shoots demonstrated how Atlanta can convincingly double for international and fictional settings while delivering world-class production support. A return—even partial—would deliver welcome economic activity after the recent production dip that has left many local technicians and vendors seeking work.
For now, Atlanta fans and industry workers can celebrate the confirmation of a new chapter in the Wakandan saga under Coogler’s direction, with Wright and newcomer Jonsson carrying the legacy forward. Whether the cameras roll on Georgia soundstages or streets again remains to be seen, but the city’s proven role in bringing Wakanda to life means hope—and active advocacy—will stay high until production details firm up.
Stay tuned to local outlets for any Georgia Film Office updates or location scouting reports as Black Panther 3 moves from announcement toward cameras.
Final Word
With more than 1,000 movie and TV projects just in the last few years, the Peach State film industry has generated more than $12 billion.
There are so many movies filmed in Atlanta these days that it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest movie casting calls, celeb sightings and Atlanta happenings delivered to your inbox.
See Atlanta Casting Calls And Auditions Available Right Now
Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls
Read More From AtlantaFi.com:
-
Actor Chadwick Boseman is living high off the hog these days thanks to his recent movie credits, including a star turn as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and now “Black Panther.”
The actor said that when he stayed down South to film (largely in the Atlanta area) he was reminded of the progress the nation has made — and the lack thereof. He told culture website Mr. Porter that he witnessed firsthand a gathering of the Ku Klux Klan as he drove home to visit family in South Carolina.
“When I was shooting Black Panther in Atlanta, I used to drive back on off-days to go see my family in Anderson. It’s about two hours,” he told the website.
“And I would see the Klan holding rallies in a Walmart car park,” he added. “So it’s like we’re going forwards and backwards at the same time. People don’t want to experience change, they just want to wake up and it’s different. But this — shooting Black Panther and then driving past the Klan —that’s what change feels like.”
“Black Panther” has gotten super reviews since it screened for celebrities last week on the big screen. The film debuts Feb. 13 in select markets and opens up nationwide two days later.
During a special screening on Tuesday, Feb. 6 in Atlanta, MPAA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said that the film’s production has generated $83.9 Million to Georgia’s economy, according to Deadline.
At the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, a Lexus exec crushed over the fact that the automaker’s new LC 500 model is featured prominently in the movie.
“There is one scene I’m not happy about. There’s a scene when [King T’Challa] slid across the hood and left a huge scratch on the car,” said Koji Sato, the executive general manager of the Lexus LC 500, according to Thedrive.com. “What is wrong with you, that’s my baby! Why would you do that? You are crazy!”
