Marvel Studios keeps it simple at SDCC, announcing Gosling as Ghost Rider and David Jonsson for ‘Black Panther III’

Shawn Levy will helm ‘Ghost Rider,’ while Ryan Coogler returns to ‘Black Panther’ with a new actor ready to take the mantle.

The logos for Ghost Rider and Black Panther III
The logos for Ghost Rider and Black Panther III. / Marvel Studios

The last time Marvel Studios was at San Diego Comic-Con, they dropped the news that Robert Downey Jr. was returning to the MCU ... as Doctor Doom. Kevin Feige was back in Hall H on Saturday night, and with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars looming, the Marvel Studios chief pulled back the curtain on some of the MCU’s plans for beyond the next two Avengers movies.

The big news: Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider and we have a new actor playing Black Panther. With Disney’s D23 less than a month away, Saturday’s SDCC news is likely only the beginning ...

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Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider is joining the MCU, with Ryan Gosling on board in the lead role and Shawn Levy directing. Levy is no stranger to the MCU, previously directing Deadpool vs. Wolverine. We’re also getting Star Wars: Starfighter from Gosling and Levy, and I’m guessing Disney is pleased with how that Star Wars film is shaping up if they’re handing the duo the keys to a major MCU character.

“Wow. Is this really happening?” Gosling said on stage. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time. But if we’re really going to do this, there’s only one director who can do it.”

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“We spent a lot of time last year making Star Wars: Starfighter, and as Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing, and I finally said ‘Bro, let’s ride,’” Levy said during the Hall H presentation. “So guys, we’ll see you in 2028.”

Congrats to Gosling on finally becoming a tentpole star. The magic of Project Hail Mary!

  • 📺 Gosling got a very enthusiastic reaction when he appeared on stage. (Watch)

A new Black Panther rises

Who knows what fate lies in store for Shuri in Doomsday and Secret Wars (Letitia Wright was on stage during this part of the presentation), but Black Panther III is on its way — and Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk star David Jonsson is taking over the mantle of Black Panther.

“The last time we got to make a movie, we introduced a character who is the son of the character that the great Chadwick Boseman played, our T’Challa, in that film,” Ryan Coogler said as he introduced Jonsson. “And today, I want to tell you that in this next film, he grows up [and] he comes of age.”

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“I want to say thank you so much,” Jonsson told the Marvel Studios audience. “Thank you Ryan, thank you Kevin [Feige], thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join. I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”

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Based on Jonsson’s age — he’s 32 — I’m guessing we’re going to get a bit of a timeline scramble thanks to Secret Wars.

With Coogler returning to direct, Black Panther III is set to open on Dec. 15, 2028.

Does this mean Deadpool is in Avengers: Doomsday?

Ryan Reynolds wasn’t part of the initial unveiling of Doomsday cast members, but he was at SDCC — in a gray Deadpool suit — though it’s unclear if this means he’s in the film or not.

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