SAN DIEGO (AP) 鈥� Marvel Studios used its Comic-Con International presentation Saturday to announce David Jonsson as the new Black Panther 鈥� the son of Chadwick Boseman鈥檚 T鈥機halla 鈥� and reveal that Ryan Gosling will be playing Ghost Rider, both in films set for release in 2028.
Jonsson joined Oscar-winning 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� franchise director Ryan Coogler on stage alongside Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, holding his hand to his chest and smiling broadly. 鈥淏lack Panther III鈥� is set for release Dec. 15, 2028.
鈥淭hank you to this family that I have the honor and the blessing to join. I don鈥檛 want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking,鈥� said the 32-year-old actor, known for roles in 鈥淚ndustry,鈥� 鈥淭he Long Walk鈥� and 鈥淎lien: Romulus.鈥�
Boseman died in 2020, and ever since 2022’s 鈥淏lack Panther: Wakanda Forever鈥� revealed that T鈥機halla had a son, fans have been playing a guessing game of who might take over the mantle, with Damson Idris and Wright in the mix. The original 2018 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� became the first superhero film to earn a best picture Oscar nomination and made more than $1.3 billion worldwide, while the sequel earned $850 million.
Ryan Gosling rides into the MCU
Gosling will re-team with his 鈥淪tar Wars: Starfighter鈥� director Shawn Levy on 鈥淕host Rider.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 having the greatest flashback vibes being here,鈥� said Levy in reference to his appearance at Hall H two years ago to promote 鈥淒eadpool & Wolverine,” which became a massive hit. 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget that night because it was also my real introduction to the greatest fans anywhere.鈥�
Gosling greeted Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige and told the crowd that he鈥檇 wanted to play the character for a long time.
Gosling鈥檚 longtime partner, Eva Mendes, starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Cage鈥檚 original standalone 鈥淕host Rider鈥� film, released in 2007 鈥� a year before 鈥淚ron Man鈥� kicked off Marvel鈥檚 cinematic universe. A sequel was released by Sony in 2012, and film rights have since reverted to Marvel, but the character hasn鈥檛 appeared yet in the MCU.
Stars take stage for 鈥楢vengers: Doomsday鈥�
Feige told the crowd that Joe and Anthony Russo鈥檚 2019 film 鈥淎vengers: Endgame鈥� will be re-released in theaters on Sept. 25 with new footage linking it to the Russos鈥� 鈥淎vengers: Doomsday,鈥� due out Dec. 18.
A 鈥淒oomsday鈥� trailer played during the panel showed that Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom will have some past tie to Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby). Storm is seen saying that Doom is a broken person who used to be different: 鈥淓verything he loved was taken from him.鈥� Later, Richards asks Doom if he’s the one responsible for the horrors around them.
Downey Jr. joked on stage that Reed and Doom were 鈥渂esties.鈥� Fans have been curious about the connection between the two after 鈥淭he Fantastic Four: First Steps鈥� post-credit scene included a clip of Doom sitting in Reed and Storm鈥檚 living room with their baby.
鈥淒oomsday鈥� stars taking the stage included Wright, Duke, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Simu Liu, Danny Ramirez, Anthony Mackie, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Paul Rudd, Rebecca Romijn, David Harbour, Lewis Pullman and Tenoch Huerta.
Ryan Reynolds appears as gray Deadpool
Clad in a new gray Deadpool costume, Ryan Reynolds crashed the panel from the audience.
鈥淟ongtime listener. First time caller,鈥� said Reynolds, asking Rudd why Thor was crying in the previous film. Rudd responded 鈥淗e鈥檚 a Wrexham fan,鈥� in reference to the soccer team that Reynolds co-owns.
“This seems like an awfully expensive way to announce a film. When do you start filming,鈥� asked Reynolds.
鈥淚t鈥檚 in the can, bro! Did you bump your head?鈥� said Downey Jr. from the stage.
Many fans waited more than a day to get inside Comic-Con鈥檚 most-anticipated panel. Marvel Studios hopes it will act as a reset for its brand, which has been diluted by an overabundance of Disney+ series and critics’ disappointment in films like last year’s 鈥淐aptain America: Brave New World.鈥� Though audience interest in superhero films has waned in recent years, 鈥淪pider-Man: Brand New Day鈥� 鈥� released by Sony in coordination with Marvel 鈥� is set to dominate the summer box office when it’s released July 31 and ticket pre-sales have been strong for 鈥淒oomsday.鈥�
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