Trust Ryan Coogler to break cinematic boundaries even in the MCU. At this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Coogler announced that Black Panther 3 will be shot entirely on large-format celluloid film, a first for Marvel Studios since it was founded in 2008. The announcement came alongside the confirmation that David Jonsson will star as the new Black Panther and that the film will release on December 15, 2028.
Why Black Panther 3 Is A First For Marvel Studios
No MCU film has ever been shot on large-format celluloid, a choice that captures substantially more image area than 35mm film, allowing for exceptionally high resolving power and a distinctive large-format look. The franchise’s first four films — Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, and Thor — were shot on standard 35mm photochemical film. From Phase 2 onwards, starting with Iron Man 3 in 2013, the MCU moved to an entirely digital image capture and production pipeline. Iron Man 3 DOP John Toll told Shutterstock’s Premium Beat that “part of the whole attraction of the digital world is convenience, especially for big visual effects movies.” Eternals was the exception in terms of its cinematographic style and production methods, but it was still photographed digitally.
Coogler joins a small group of contemporary directors including Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson who have continued to shoot on large-format film in an industry that has otherwise moved almost entirely to digital. Nolan’s The Odyssey was the first film ever to be shot entirely on native IMAX 70mm film cameras. Coogler’s Sinners, which won him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 98th Academy Awards and grossed over $370 million at the box office, was also shot on large-format film.
What Else Was Announced For Black Panther 3
Coogler is returning to direct. David Jonsson is not exactly a new kid on the block, having already featured in HBO drama Industry, sci-fi flick Alien: Romulus, the wonderfully underrated romance Rye Lane and Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. In Black Panther 3, he will play T’Challa’s grown-up son, taking on the Black Panther mantle as the adult T’Challa II, who was introduced as a child in Wakanda Forever.
Letitia Wright and Winston Duke are confirmed to return as Shuri and M’Baku. Denzel Washington will appear in a currently undisclosed role which would also be his MCU debut, which he had confirmed himself back in 2024. Black Panther 3 releases December 15, 2028, arriving after both Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027).
