After years of massive Comic-Con panels with full Avengers casts, it didn’t seem possible that Marvel Studios could go bigger. But, boy, did they.

In a first for Hall H, the studio surprised the 7,000-strong crowd by revealing a hidden stage in the back of the cavernous room, with castmembers from Thunderbolts* and the 2000s X-Men movies appearing.

After giving brief speeches, the actors made their way from the back, through the entire hall, high-fiving fans along the way and the crowd screaming like it was a Beatles or BTS concert. They joined the main stage already populated by Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and the star attraction, Robert Downey Jr.

It was just one part of supersized panel, that included the startling revelations that Alien: Romulus breakout David Jonsson would play the son of T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman) in Black Panther 3 for a Dec. 15, 2028 release. He will take the mantle of the Black Panther.

Another bombshell: not only would Ryan Gosling play Ghost Rider in a new movie, but Deadpool & Wolverine and Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy would direct for a 2028 release.

Even Ryan Reynolds, who had not attended Apple TV’s presentation of his upcoming action comedy Mayday earlier in the day, crashed the proceedings — in costume as a cosplayer named Ricky, but really as Deadpool. He pointedly asked if production had begun. (Apparently he wasn’t invited.) Downey was having none of it, jokingly seeming annoyed with the Merc with the Mouth.

“It’s in the can, bro. Look around you. Did you bump your head?” Downey told Deadpool, who then asked about possible additional photography to add new people to the mix. The crowd “awwed” in sadness.

On some level, there had been pressure all week for Marvel to pull out all the stops for its Comic-Con presentation. On Monday, it released the trailer for Doomsday, and while it racked up record views showing a lot of interest, reaction was not enthusiastic. And with a checkered slate since 2019’s mega-event Avengers: Endgame, the company needed to show that Doomsday isn’t a grasp at past glories. And while not indicative of future quality, Saturday’s panel demolished any negativity from days prior.

In addition to the big news drops and the sheer force of actors, it was a massive spectacle with light shows and pop music. And, oh yes, costumes. Each attendee received a Doom mask and cape that they donned when asked by Downey, who in his Doom accent, asked the assembled legion to join his cause. Marvel, with this panel, continued to up the ante. The crowd was continually on its feet; every time it would sit down, some reveal would jolt them back up, to see, to yell, to record on their phones.

Ryan Reynolds gave maximum effort while angling for a role in Avengers: Doomsday during San Diego Comic-Con.

As the star-studded team for the forthcoming Marvel Studios film was onstage at SDCC on Saturday, Reynolds surprised fans when he appeared among the crowd while dressed in Deadpool‘s gray suit that has not yet appeared on the big screen but can be seen in X-Force comics. Doomsday directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo were among those participating in the panel alongside Kevin Feige to promote the Disney film that hits theaters Dec. 18.

Reynolds joked that his name was Ricky and that he was “cosplaying hard.” He went on to say, “First question is for Mr. Paul Rudd. Where is Thor, and why was he crying?” This referenced a moment in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, during which Chris Hemsworth’s Norse God of Thunder appears to hold a dying Deadpool in a scene set in the future.

Rudd quipped, “He’s a Wrexham fan?” in a dig at the soccer team that Reynolds and friend Rob Mac own. Reynolds fired back, “You know goddamn well why he was crying.”

Reynolds’ Deadpool continued, “This seems like an awfully expensive way to announce a film. When do you start filming?” This spurred Robert Downey Jr., who stars as Doctor Doom after initially playing Iron Man in the MCU, to reply, “It’s in the can, bro. Look around you. Did you bump your head?”

After a pause, a deflated Deadpool responded, “I see. So there’s no additional photography, no overages, hot costs — maybe last minute additions?” The star then said abruptly, “No further questions. Happy Hogan, fetch the Audi. We’re leaving.” Reynolds dropped the microphone and made his way out of Hall H.

Although Reynolds has not been officially confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, media rumors have persisted about a possible role for Deadpool. The opinionated anti-hero was last seen on the big screen opposite Hugh Jackman in Deadpool vs. Wolverine, which surpassed $1.3 billion at the global box office.

Earlier this month, Reynolds confirmed during an appearance at Fanatics Fest that a new Deadpool film would indeed come to fruition at some point.

Other highlights from this year’s Marvel panel included Ryan Gosling teasing his starring role in a Ghost Rider movie that Shawn Levy will direct. Additionally, Black Panther 3 filmmaker Ryan Coogler took the stage to announce that David Jonsson will star as T’Challa’s adult son for the movie that will hit theaters in 2028.