SAN DIEGO (AP) – Marvel Studios made a significant impact during its Comic-Con International presentation on Saturday, announcing the casting of David Jonsson as the new Black Panther, who will portray the son of Chadwick Boseman's character T'Challa. Additionally, it was revealed that Ryan Gosling will take on the iconic role of Ghost Rider in upcoming films set for release in 2028.
Jonsson shared the stage with Ryan Coogler, the Oscar-winning director of the "Black Panther" franchise, as well as Letitia Wright and Winston Duke. The highly anticipated "Black Panther III" is scheduled to release on December 15, 2028. Expressing his gratitude, the 32-year-old actor, known for his roles in "Industry," "The Long Walk," and "Alien: Romulus," stated, “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.”
Chadwick Boseman, who originally portrayed T'Challa, passed away in 2020, and the character’s legacy has been a point of speculation. Following the reveal in 2022’s "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" that T'Challa had a son, fans eagerly anticipated the announcement of his successor, with contenders such as Damson Idris and Letitia Wright being considered. The first "Black Panther" film, released in 2018, garnered critical acclaim, earning a Best Picture Oscar nomination and grossing over $1.3 billion globally. The sequel, "Wakanda Forever," was also successful, earning about $850 million.
In another exciting development, Ryan Gosling, fresh off his collaboration with director Shawn Levy on "Star Wars: Starfighter," will star in "Ghost Rider." Levy reflected on his experience at Hall H two years prior to promote "Deadpool & Wolverine," remarking, “I’ll never forget that night because it was also my real introduction to the greatest fans anywhere.” Gosling took the stage expressing his long-held desire to portray the character, noting his connection to the franchise, as his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, starred alongside Nicolas Cage in the original "Ghost Rider" film, released in 2007.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige also shared exciting news about the franchise, announcing that Joe and Anthony Russo's "Avengers: Endgame" will be re-released in theaters on September 25, featuring new footage that ties into "Avengers: Doomsday," set to debut on December 18, 2028. A trailer for "Doomsday" unveiled a storyline involving key characters such as Victor Von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., and Reed Richards, portrayed by Pedro Pascal. The trailer hinted at a complex relationship between Doom and Richards, with Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) suggesting that Doom is a fundamentally broken person whose suffering has driven his actions.
On the panel, Downey Jr. humorously claimed that Reed and Doom are "besties," teasing the audience with the evolving dynamics among the characters. The confirmed cast for "Doomsday" includes a multitude of stars, such as Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Simu Liu, and Anthony Mackie, among others.
In a surprise moment, Ryan Reynolds joined the panel dressed in a new gray Deadpool costume, amusingly engaging with his fellow cast members. He quizzed Rudd about reasons Thor was crying in the previous film, to which Rudd humorously responded pointing to Wrexham, the soccer team that Reynolds co-owns. The interaction highlighted the camaraderie and playful banter among the stars, with Downey Jr. reminding Reynolds that the filming for "Doomsday" was already complete.
Fans eagerly anticipated this Marvel panel, with many waiting more than a day to gain access. The event exemplified Marvel Studios' aims to rejuvenate its franchise after several years of mixed receptions regarding its Disney+ series and films like "Captain America: Brave New World." Despite a decline in audience interest in superhero movies, Marvel is set to make a big splash with the upcoming release of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" on July 31, which has already shown strong pre-sales momentum for "Doomsday."
