Marvel Studios delivered two massive casting announcements at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, reshaping its cinematic future with surprises fans have long anticipated. During the studios’ Hall H panel, Kevin Feige revealed that David Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther in the third film of the franchise, while Ryan Gosling officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ghost Rider.
The Black Panther announcement came as director Ryan Coogler took the stage to introduce Jonsson, 32, to an enthusiastic crowd. Jonsson will play T’Challa II, the grown son of the late Chadwick Boseman’s original Black Panther. The character was first introduced as a child in the 2022 film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and the new film will follow him as he comes of age in Wakanda. Coogler, who has directed both previous Black Panther films, will return to helm the third installment, scheduled for release on December 15, 2028. The director took the stage alongside returning cast members Letitia Wright, who played Shuri and became Black Panther in Wakanda Forever, and Winston Duke, reprising his role as M’Baku.
Jonsson responded with humility when introduced to the Hall H crowd. “Thank you to this family that I have the honor and the blessing to join. I don’t want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking,” said the actor, who was previously known for roles in the HBO financial thriller series “Industry,” the Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk,” and the science fiction horror film “Alien: Romulus.”
The casting resolves years of speculation about how Marvel would handle the Black Panther legacy following Boseman’s death from colon cancer in 2020. The original Black Panther film earned $1.3 billion worldwide and received seven Oscar nominations, including a Best Picture nod—the first ever for a superhero film—and won three Academy Awards.
The Ghost Rider announcement proved equally momentous. Ryan Gosling arrived on the Hall H stage to the sound of a motorcycle revving, officially confirming rumors that had circulated for months. The three-time Oscar nominee will star as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Ghost Rider in a film directed by Shawn Levy, known for helming “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024. The movie is slated to arrive in 2028.
“Wow. Is this really happening?” Gosling said as he took the stage. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.” The actor has publicly expressed his desire to portray Ghost Rider since 2022, when he shut down speculation that Marvel was interested in casting him as Nova, emphasizing instead that Ghost Rider was his dream role.
Gosling and Levy are currently working together on the upcoming film “Star Wars: Starfighter,” set for release in May 2027. According to Gosling, he and the director spent downtime on set discussing and daydreaming about Ghost Rider, ultimately determining that Levy was the right fit to bring the character to the MCU. The Ghost Rider logo was debuted at Comic-Con, teasing the motorcycle-riding antihero’s arrival in the shared universe.
Jonsson’s casting marks a significant moment for the rising British actor, who has built momentum through standout performances in recent years. He won the 2025 BAFTA Rising Star Award for his role as the synthetic android Andy in “Alien: Romulus,” a performance that generated widespread acclaim. “The Long Walk,” in which he starred opposite Cooper Hoffman in a Stephen King adaptation, also earned positive reviews upon its 2025 release. Before his film breakthrough, Jonsson spent years performing in West End theatre productions and won a Black British Theatre Award for his performance in “and breathe…” in 2021.
The two announcements represent major momentum for Marvel Studios as it heads deeper into its Phase 7 slate. Both Black Panther III and Ghost Rider join a crowded calendar of upcoming MCU projects, though neither film received a specific release date window beyond their 2028 targets. The Hall H presentation also featured exclusive footage from “Avengers: Doomsday,” the December 2024 film that will launch a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.