Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a new Marvel Studios film directed by Shawn Levy, set for release in 2028. Kevin Feige announced the casting during Marvel's Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 on 26 July Deadline.

The Ghost Rider news was one of several reveals from Marvel's flagship panel. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo assembled a sprawling Hall H lineup that included Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Simu Liu, Anthony Mackie, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, David Harbour, Kelsey Grammer, Hayley Atwell, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Hannah John-Kamen, Tenoch Huerta, Lewis Pullman, and Danny Ramirez — a roster that points to the scale of Marvel's upcoming ensemble projects, though specific film titles for each cast member were not detailed in the source.

Ryan Coogler made a surprise appearance at the same panel to announce Black Panther 3, now dated for 15 December 2028. David Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther, portraying the son of T'Challa Deadline. The character's father, T'Challa, was previously played by the late Chadwick Boseman in the first two films.

Outside Hall H, the convention floor was packed. DC Studios presented its first Comic-Con look at Lanterns — a forthcoming series featuring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, alongside co-creators Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy and Tom King Deadline. Mike Flanagan unveiled never-before-seen footage from his television adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie.

Prime Video had a heavy footprint, debuting new footage from Blade Runner 2099 and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, while also bringing Reacher and its new spinoff Neagley to the convention. Apple TV spotlighted Matchbox The Movie, Dark Matter Season 2, Silo Season 3, Mayday, and Widow's Bay.

AMC previewed The Walking Dead: Dead City season three and shared a first look at Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire season four, paired with a Queen of the Damned trailer. The network also showcased The Vampire Lestat and AMC+ debuted a first look at Yaga Deadline.

Disney Entertainment Television brought Percy Jackson — with a season three release date announcement and first footage revealed on 24 July Deadline — alongside King of the Hill and The Rookie, which previewed its upcoming ninth season.

Ballroom 20 hosted an animation takeover with panels for Bob's Burgers, Futurama, The Simpsons, American Dad, and Family Guy. Hall H also held a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 panel and a Star Trek franchise 60th anniversary celebration. Paramount Pictures set up an Ebenezer's Office activation, and outside at Petco Park, attendees could walk through a MaruMart Japanese convenience store installation Fox 5 San Diego.

San Diego Comic-Con 2026 ran 23–26 July, with Preview Night on 22 July, at the San Diego Convention Center Comic-Con International. Deadline's photo gallery by Robert Lang captured panels, activations, cosplay and the convention floor throughout the weekend Deadline.

For audiences, the Gosling casting and the Black Panther 3 date are the headlines that will ripple longest — a 2028 release window means both films are still well over a year away. What Comic-Con 2026 established is the slate audiences now know is coming, and the cast lists that will carry it.