Marvel Studios turned its San Diego Comic-Con panel into one of the biggest nights in the studio’s history, confirming that A-lister Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider and David Jonsson as the new Black Panther, while Ryan Reynolds pulled off an unannounced Deadpool stunt that had Hall H in stitches.

Kevin Feige introduced Gosling to a roaring Hall H crowd, ending years of speculation about the actor joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gosling has teased his interest in the role publicly since 2022, with Feige responding warmly to the idea at the time.

“Wow, is this really happening,” Gosling asked the crowd. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.”

The new Ghost Rider film arrives in 2028, reuniting Gosling with director Shawn Levy, who is currently filming Star Wars: Starfighter with him. Levy told the audience that he and Gosling spent much of their downtime on that set “daydreaming about Ghost Rider and swapping ideas.”

Nicolas Cage previously played the character in two films released by Sony in 2007 and 2011. Marvel has not yet confirmed which comic book version of the character Gosling will portray.

Director Ryan Coogler also took the stage to confirm Black Panther 3, set for release on December 15, 2028. He introduced David Jonsson as T’Challa II, the son of Chadwick Boseman’s original T’Challa and Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, a character introduced at the end of 2022’s Wakanda Forever.

Jonsson, recently seen in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, addressed the crowd with visible emotion.

“Thank you to this family that I have the honor and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said.

The night’s biggest surprise came when Ryan Reynolds appeared in the crowd wearing a grey, comic-accurate Deadpool costume, a look based on the character’s X-Force suit that had never appeared on screen before. Staying in character, he introduced himself as “Ricky” and began questioning the Avengers: Doomsday cast about landing a role in the film.

“First question is for Mr. Paul Rudd,” Reynolds said. “Where is Thor, and why was he crying?”

The line referenced an unresolved moment from 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. Rudd fired back that Thor was crying because he is a Wrexham fan, poking fun at the soccer club Reynolds co-owns.

Reynolds kept up the bit as he pressed the cast about the production schedule, then signed off in character.

“So there’s no additional photography, no overages, no last-minute additions? No further questions,” he said.

Reynolds later shared photos of the costume on Instagram, nicknaming it “Jeanpool” in a nod to the denim detailing and Canadian flag patch on the chest. Marvel has not formally confirmed his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday.

The presentation also gave fans a first look at Avengers: Doomsday, due in theaters on December 18. Marvel confirmed that 2019’s Avengers: Endgame will return to cinemas on September 25 with new footage connecting it to the upcoming film.