Are Damson Idris and Michael B Jordan beefing? Black Panther 3 casting brings Lori Harvey controversy back into spotlight

When Ryan Coogler walked onto the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic Con 2026, fans knew they were finally going to get answers about Black Panther 3. The biggest reveal of the panel was that British actor David Jonsson will play the adult version of Prince T'Challa, also known as Toussaint, carrying forward the Black Panther legacy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


The announcement should have ended years of fan casting. Instead, it opened the door to a completely different discussion. Within minutes, X was flooded with posts asking the same question: what happened to Damson Idris? For years, Idris had been one of the most popular fan choices to lead Wakanda's next chapter. As disappointment spread among some fans, old celebrity headlines resurfaced, and before long, Michael B Jordan and Lori Harvey had become part of the story too.

Since the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, fans have spent years guessing who would eventually inherit the mantle of Black Panther. While Marvel kept quiet about its plans, one name kept appearing in fan casts across social media: Damson Idris.

His performance in Snowfall earned him a loyal fan following, and many believed he had the intensity and screen presence needed for a role as important as Black Panther. Fan posters, edits and casting wish lists regularly featured Idris whenever Marvel rumours surfaced.


That changed at Comic Con, where Coogler confirmed David Jonsson as the adult Toussaint. The filmmaker also revealed that Letitia Wright will return as Shuri, with the story continuing the journey of T'Challa's son, who was introduced during the emotional ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film is currently scheduled to hit theatres on December 15, 2028. While many welcomed Jonsson's casting, others immediately started wondering why Idris was never chosen.

As fans searched for answers, the conversation quickly moved beyond Marvel. Several viral posts on X claimed there could be more to the story than simply choosing one actor over another. The theory centred on Ryan Coogler's long working relationship with Michael B Jordan. The two have collaborated for more than a decade, beginning with Fruitvale Station before reuniting for the Creed films and both Black Panther movies. That connection led some users to revisit another piece of Hollywood history.

The name that unexpectedly found its way into the Black Panther discussion was Lori Harvey. Harvey and Michael B Jordan dated between 2020 and 2022, becoming one of Hollywood's most talked-about celebrity couples. After their breakup, Harvey was later linked to Damson Idris, with the pair making public appearances together before eventually going their separate ways.


That old timeline has now become the centre of a viral fan theory. Some users believe Idris never stood a chance of landing Black Panther 3 because of Coogler's friendship with Jordan. According to the theory, the personal connection may have influenced Marvel's casting process.

There is, however, no evidence to support those claims. Neither Ryan Coogler, Michael B Jordan, Damson Idris nor Lori Harvey has commented on the speculation. Marvel Studios has also never suggested Idris was officially being considered for the role.

The theory has spread across X through dozens of posts, memes and screenshots, with many users trying to connect the dots. One user joked, "You ain't hear that. You read it on Twitter." Another wrote, "People really think somebody lost a Marvel role because of who dated whose ex?"

Others pointed out that Jonsson's recent performances in films like Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk have made him one of Britain's fastest rising young actors. For them, Marvel's decision is easier to explain through auditions, story plans and the studio's long term vision than through celebrity relationships.

Many fans also reminded others that Damson Idris has never publicly confirmed meeting Marvel about Black Panther. His name became closely linked with the role because of fan support, not because the studio ever announced he was in talks.


At this point, there is nothing in the public domain to suggest that. Neither actor has spoken about having any issues with the other. There have been no interviews, social media exchanges or official statements hinting at a feud. Everything currently circulating online is based on fan speculation that resurfaced after Marvel's casting announcement.

What is confirmed is that David Jonsson will lead the next chapter of the Black Panther story, while Letitia Wright returns as Shuri under Ryan Coogler's direction. Everything else, including the claims linking the casting to Lori Harvey's dating history, remains an unverified internet theory.

Still, the episode shows just how quickly old celebrity stories can find new life online. One Marvel announcement was all it took for fans to revisit relationships from years ago and build an entirely new narrative around them. Whether people believe it or not, the discussion has become almost as big as the casting itself.