Marvel Studios delivered two major casting reveals on Saturday, naming Ryan Gosling as the next Ghost Rider and David Jonsson as the new Black Panther, as reported [1] by Page Six.
The announcements landed as crowd-pleasing bombshells inside Hall H, where fans got their first confirmation that both actors are heading into major Marvel roles.
Gosling, 45, will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a standalone “Ghost Rider” movie scheduled for release in 2028.
Black Panther 3, 2028
Ryan Gosling as the new Ghost Rider.
Interesting times Marvel…Interesting times. pic.twitter.com/mZJU8fr2WD [2]
— Hikari® (@Hikari_0xi) July 26, 2026 [3]
The three-time Oscar nominee, known for “Barbie” and “La La Land,” appeared before the crowd after being unveiled for the role.
“As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a long time,” Gosling told the audience as the reveal drew thunderous cheers.
The “Ghost Rider” project will also bring Gosling back together with director Shawn Levy and writer Jonathan Tropper.
The three are connected through the upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter,” and Levy also directed the blockbuster “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Nicolas Cage, 62, previously played motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze in 2007’s “Ghost Rider.”
Cage later returned to the role for 2011’s “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” giving the character a prior big-screen run before this new Marvel chapter.
Gosling’s longtime partner, Eva Mendes, 52, also has a connection to the franchise.
Mendes starred opposite Cage in the original movie as Roxanne Simpson, though she did not return for the sequel.
It is not yet known whether Mendes will reprise the role in the new “Ghost Rider” movie.
At the same presentation, Marvel also confirmed Jonsson, 32, as the next actor to take on the Black Panther mantle.
Jonsson, the breakout star of “Alien: Romulus,” will play an adult version of T’Challa’s son in “Black Panther 3.”
Director Ryan Coogler revealed that the sequel will hit theaters Dec. 15, 2028.
“Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and privilege and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said from the stage.
His remarks drew Wakanda chants from the crowd, underscoring the excitement around the franchise’s next step.
The character Jonsson will play was introduced in the closing moments of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
That film revealed that the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa had a young son with Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o.
Boseman had been set to reprise his role in a planned sequel before his death.
He died in 2020 at age 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.
The Marvel presentation also included a surprise crowd appearance from Ryan Reynolds, 49.
Reynolds sparked fresh speculation about his Marvel future when he appeared while the star-studded cast of “Avengers: Doomsday” was onstage.
He wore Deadpool’s gray suit from the comics, adding another layer of intrigue for fans watching the event unfold.
Reynolds has not been announced for “Avengers: Doomsday,” but his appearance immediately fed talk about whether Deadpool could appear in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster.
He joked that his name was Ricky and that he was “cosplaying hard,” keeping the moment playful while leaving fans with more questions.
Between Gosling, Jonsson and Reynolds, Marvel used the Hall H spotlight to turn its upcoming slate into a major talking point.