“If It Were Anyone But You, I Would Say I Could Neither Confirm Nor Deny”
That’s not a Marvel press release line.
That’s not Kevin Feige‘s “exciting next chapter” corporate-speak.
That’s Ryan Coogler—actual human, actual filmmaker—leaning into a mic at Deadline Contenders and smirking while saying:
→ “We’re working on it. We’re working on it hard…”
→ “It’s the next movie.”
No winks. No caveats. Just the quiet certainty of a director who spent years rebuilding Wakanda from grief and now knows exactly where it’s going.
Let that sink in while your Twitter feed melts down over one sentence.
The Detail Only Real Fans Caught in That Quote
Did you notice the “if it were anyone but you” opener?
Coogler wasn’t just answering a question—he was rewarding loyalty.
He said it to a journalist who’s covered his work since Fruitvale Station. Who sat through the Creed press tours. Who didn’t ask about box office on the day Chadwick Boseman died.
In a franchise drowning in focus-grouped “surprises,” that tiny phrase mattered:
→ This isn’t for algorithms.
→ This is for people who stayed.
I rewatched Wakanda Forever‘s post-credits scene last night (again). Shuri on that beach in Haiti—suit off, hair loose, no vibranium glow. Just a woman finally breathing.
And for the first time, I wondered:
What if Coogler’s not rebuilding Wakanda?
What if he’s burning it down to plant something new?
Then my phone buzzed.
Denzel Washington‘s August 2025 quote to ScreenRant flashed on screen:
“That’s between me and Ryan.”
…Oh.
Why $859 Million Matters More Than You Think
Wakanda Forever grossed $859.2 million worldwide.
Not a “save the franchise” number.
A “shut up and take our money while crying” number.
Marvel doesn’t greenlight sequels out of nostalgia. They greenlight them when the math hurts to ignore.
And Coogler knows it.
But here’s what the algorithm can’t compute:
→ That $859M came after Chadwick’s death.
→ After reshoots that rewrote half the script.
→ After fans showed up not for spectacle, but for grief.
Coogler doesn’t get a blank check. He gets a responsibility.
One line from his Contenders talk stuck with me:
“We’re working on it hard.”
Not “fast.” Not “big.” Hard.
As in: This matters more than your theory videos.
Denzel’s Shadow & the Phase 7 Gamble
Let’s be real—we don’t know who Denzel’s playing.
A resurrected Ezekiel Stane?
A multiverse T’Chaka?
The Beyonder in a three-piece suit? (Please.)
But Coogler wouldn’t bring Denzel Washington—Oscar winner, box office law, man who makes Denzel himself say “Sir”—for a cameo.
This is nuclear-grade casting. The kind that reshapes entire franchises.
And timing? Brutal.
Letitia Wright wrapped Avengers: Doomsday on September 19, 2025.
Secret Wars could reset the MCU’s rules.
Wakanda could be a desert. A memory. A footnote in a new universe.
Coogler’s playing 4D chess while everyone else argues about trailers.
He’s not making Black Panther 3.
He’s making the bridge between eras.
I’ve watched the Black Panther trilogy unfold across eight years of my life.
I saw it in theaters with my little cousin the weekend after our uncle died.
We didn’t talk about the movie after. We talked about what “home” means when you’re carrying ghosts.
That’s why Coogler’s “working on it hard” line gut-punched me.
This isn’t IP. It’s inheritance.
And yeah—
I know I’m supposed to be the critic who tweets hot takes about reshoots and VFX vendors.
Who dissects trailer frames for easter eggs.
But right now?
I’m just a fan who needs to believe Wakanda still has stories worth telling.
So I’ll keep refreshing my feed for that one blurry set photo.
That leaked script page.
That moment when Denzel finally steps out of the shadows and—
wait, is that a Dora Milaje tattoo on his wrist or am I—
What Coogler’s Words Actually Unlock
The “hard” is the point
This isn’t a victory lap. It’s a reckoning. Coogler’s team knows the weight they carry—and they’re leaning into it, not around it.
Denzel isn’t joining a franchise—he’s joining a mission
Washington doesn’t do cameos. He does legacies. His role will reframe Wakanda’s place in the MCU, not just expand it.
Shuri’s journey isn’t about the suit
Wright’s performance in Wakanda Forever proved the heart of this franchise beats outside vibranium. Phase 7 needs that truth.
Marvel’s finally letting directors own their corners
No shared-universe hand-wringing. Coogler gets to end his story the way he began it: human first, superhero second.
September 19, 2025 matters
The date Avengers: Doomsday wrapped isn’t trivia—it’s the starting gun for Black Panther 3’s real timeline. Everything changes after that.
FAQ
Is Black Panther 3 officially confirmed now?
Yes—but not by Marvel PR. By Ryan Coogler himself at Deadline Contenders. His words: “It’s the next movie.” That’s as confirmed as it gets pre-press release.
When will Black Panther 3 come out?
No date set. But with Avengers: Doomsday wrapping September 19, 2025, and Secret Wars likely resetting the board in 2027, Phase 7 (2028–2030) is the window. Don’t trust any “2026” rumors.
What role is Denzel Washington playing?
No one knows—not even most of Marvel Studios. Washington’s been tight-lipped since August 2025, telling ScreenRant: “That’s between me and Ryan.” Which means it’s either earth-shattering… or a test of our patience.
Will Black Panther 3 ignore Avengers: Secret Wars?
Impossible. Secret Wars will rewrite the MCU’s rules. Coogler’s working on this “hard” precisely because Phase 6’s finale will force Wakanda to evolve—or vanish. He’s not making a sequel. He’s building a lifeboat.
Why should we trust Coogler after Wakanda Forever’s reshoots?
Because he turned tragedy into one of Marvel’s most emotionally raw films. Because he protected Chadwick’s legacy when he could’ve taken the easy route. And because he just looked a journalist in the eye and said “we’re working on it hard” like it cost him something to say it.
