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Like any Marvel fan thirsting for even a whiff of Black Panther 3 updates, we finally got a tiny splash of hope in the superhero drought — and it came straight from Ryan Coogler himself. The director behind the iconic franchise casually confirmed he’s writing a role for none other than Denzel Washington in the next installment. Just one line, and the internet is already buzzing.

Denzel Washington Joins Black Panther 3

Filmmaker Ryan Coogler has officially confirmed what fans have been speculating for months — legendary actor Denzel Washington will be joining the Black Panther franchise. Speaking on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Coogler described Washington as “family” and said he’s been eager to collaborate with him since the beginning of his career.

“I have been trying to work with him since day one. I think he’s the greatest living actor, and in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I’ve been talking to him about this for a long time," the director said.

Interestingly, Washington had already hinted at his involvement in ‘Black Panther 3’ during an interview last year, surprising both fans and Coogler. “I was surprised when he mentioned it, but it’s not like it’s not true,” he admitted.

Ryan Gosling and Black Panther: What’s the Connection?

Meanwhile, Marvel recently shook up the internet with its latest comic, Marvel Knights: The World to Come, introducing Ketema — the son of T’Challa, aka Black Panther. And guess what? He’s not your typical Wakandan warrior. Ketema has blond hair and blue eyes, leaving fans wondering if that Ryan Gosling Black Panther meme is finally coming to life.

Set in a future where T’Challa has mellowed into a silver-haired king, the story kicks off when his estranged son Ketema shows up unannounced, looking more like a Norse warrior than a Wakandan prince. Born from an early romance, Ketema’s striking features have sparked confusion and a flood of memes online.

His origin story has triggered wild theories, from alternate timelines to experimental gene-editing. While Marvel hasn’t officially cast Gosling as Wakanda’s next king, his name keeps popping up in fan threads faster than you can say “Wakanda Forever.” One thing’s for sure: Ketema’s entrance has shaken up the Black Panther legacy, leaving readers eager for the twists ahead.

In Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1, the father-son drama reaches a boiling point as Ketema lashes out, calling T’Challa a “liar” and an “unworthy father” in a fierce clash set eight years before the current timeline. A white man wearing the Black Panther mantle was always going to stir debate — and Marvel seems fully aware. With Ketema’s actions and lineage already sparking questions, the big mystery remains: is he Wakanda’s next king, or its biggest threat?

Who Will Be the Future King of Wakanda? 

Now, remember that emotional post-credits scene in the last Black Panther movie? That’s where we met Prince T’Challa II—though he goes by Toussaint legally. He’s the son of Nakia and the late King T’Challa. The movie and the comics take different routes, though.

Here’s the deal: T’Challa II was born in Haiti. To keep him away from all the royal pressure, Nakia raised him there and gave him the name Toussaint. Only his grandma Ramonda knew about him in the Wakandan royal family.

Fast forward to 2025, Toussaint meets Shuri in Haiti. She’s there mourning her brother, and suddenly finds out she has a nephew she never knew about. Nakia explains why they kept Toussaint’s existence a secret. Then Toussaint asks Shuri if she can keep a secret. She says yes, and that’s when he reveals Toussaint is just his Haitian name—his real name is T’Challa, son of T’Challa.

The Black Panther saga began in 2018, introducing audiences to Chadwick Boseman’s unforgettable portrayal of T’Challa, the noble king and protector of Wakanda.

Following Boseman’s untimely passing in 2020 due to colon cancer, Marvel reimagined the story for its 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This time, the torch passed to Letitia Wright’s Shuri, who stepped up to carry the legacy forward.