Marvel casting director Sarah Finn has explained why they chose David Jonsson and Ryan Gosling to fill two of the MCU's most exciting roles.
"[David] has a lot of talent and a whole lot of heart," Sarah Finn told Variety, when asked about casting Jonsson as the new Black Panther. "Obviously, these are very big shoes to fill. He is the grown version of [T'Challa's son], and our heir apparent. We needed somebody not only with the talent, but with a certain presence and a certain spirit."
Both Jonsson and Gosling took the stage during Marvel's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con following their big standalone movie announcements. Both Black Panther 3 and Ghost Rider are due out in 2028.
"Have there been occasions in the past where we've pursued Ryan for a role?" Finn asked rhetorically. "Although Ryan is very public about saying he wanted to play [Ghost Rider], so there wasn't a lot of heavy lifting. The reaction was beautiful to witness."
Jonsson is best known for his starring roles in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, with the former earning him the BAFTA Award for Rising Star. Gosling recently hit big at the box office with Project Hail Mary, which saw him playing a secretly brilliant schoolteacher who gets sent into space to save the world.
For more, check out our guide to everything announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. We've also rounded up all of the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.
