Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con with plenty to reveal about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
With Spider-Man: Brand New Dayopening in theaters this week and Avengers: Doomsdaydue out in December, much of the spotlight fell on those two films, with Marvel debuting exclusive footage from both.
But Comic-Con wasn’t just about the studio’s next two blockbusters. The weekend also brought casting announcements and updates on Marvel’s slate through 2028, including the reveal of the next Black Panther and Ghost Rider.
Here are the biggest Marvel announcements from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
David Jonsson becomes Marvel’s next Black Panther
Alien: Romulus actor David Jonsson will star in Black Panther IIIas the son of King T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman). The movie arrives in theaters on Dec. 15, 2028.
“Thank you to this family that I have the honor and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said. “I don’t want to say too much, because I want to let the screen do the talking.”
After Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020, Marvel chose not to recast the beloved character. Instead, 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed that T’Challa had a young son, paving the way for Jonsson to become the franchise’s new Black Panther.
Ryan Gosling joins the MCU as Ghost Rider
Barbie star Ryan Gosling will play Marvel antihero Ghost Rider in a standalone movie directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy, with the project set for release in 2028. The casting follows years of speculation that Gosling would take on the role.
“Wow, is this really happening?” Gosling told the crowd. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.”
Ghost Rider was previously played by Nicolas Cage in two films released before the MCU began.
Doctor Doom dominates new ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer
Marvel unveiled a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer centered on Robert Downey Jr.’s villainous Doctor Doom.
According to Variety, Doom ominously warns the movie’s heroes, “All of you have lived stolen lives. Now you must give them back.” The trailer also shows him commanding an army of Sentinels, the giant mutant-hunting robots familiar from Marvel’s X-Men comic books.
The footage — which hasn’t been officially released online — also features Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The team-up movie is due out on Dec. 18.
Peggy Carter returns for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Hayley Atwell confirmed she’ll reprise her role as Peggy Carter in Avengers: Doomsday. She was joined on stage by Downey Jr., Evans, Pascal, Rudd, David Harbour and other members of the Avengers: Doomsday cast.
The Doomsday panel was also interrupted by Ryan Reynolds, who emerged from the audience dressed as Deadpool. “This seems like an awfully expensive way to announce a film,” he joked before asking when production would begin.
Downey Jr. replied: “It’s in the can, bro! Did you bump your head?”
Spider-Man fights Hulk in ‘Brand New Day’ clip
Marvel debuted a new clip from Spider-Man: Brand New Day showing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man teaming up with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to battle Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). According to GamesRadar, Punisher repeatedly shoots Hulk in the head before the pair combine forces to stop him.
Bernthal was the only cast member to appear on stage, joining Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige to introduce the exclusive preview.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31.
‘Avengers: Endgame’ gets ‘Encore’ re-release
Marvel will re-release 2019’s Avengers: Endgamein theaters on Sept. 25 with new footage designed to bridge the blockbuster to Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige announced. It will be titled Avengers: Endgame Encore.
