Marvel Studios came back to San Diego Comic-Con in a big way. After skipping Hall H in 2025, the studio used its 2026 return to announce a Ryan Gosling Ghost Rider film, date Black Panther III and show new Avengers: Doomsday footage. Comic-Con 2026 ran July 23–26 at the San Diego Convention Center, after Preview Night on July 22.
Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige led the presentation. It opened with a look back at Marvel’s Comic-Con history and handed out Doctor Doom masks to the crowd. Here are the biggest reveals:
- Ghost Rider: Ryan Gosling will star in a new Ghost Rider film directed by Shawn Levy, set for 2028. Gosling appeared on stage with the film’s logo.
- Black Panther III: Ryan Coogler returns to direct, with a theatrical release set for December 15, 2028. David Jonsson will play the grown son of T’Challa and Nakia.
- Avengers: Doomsday: Joe and Anthony Russo brought a huge cast, including Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. Hayley Atwell’s appearance confirmed Peggy Carter returns. New footage showed Doom activating an army of Sentinels. The film opens December 18, 2026.
- Deadpool cameo: Ryan Reynolds crashed the panel in a grey Deadpool suit, confirming the character is part of the Doomsday presentation.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day: Jon Bernthal introduced footage of Spider-Man and the Punisher fighting the Hulk, days before the film’s July 31 release.
- Avengers: Endgame Encore: Endgame returns to theaters on September 25, 2026, with new footage tied to Doomsday.
- Nova: After the panel, Feige confirmed Nova is being developed as a feature film.
Marvel did not share updates on Avengers: Secret Wars or its standalone X-Men film.
Apple TV+ makes its Comic-Con debut
Apple TV+ came to Comic-Con for the first time. It previewed Silo, the new mystery series Widow’s Bay and Matchbox the Movie starring John Cena.
Prime Video, Netflix and more
Prime Video showed footage from the long-awaited Spaceballs sequel, with Mel Brooks joining the panel. It also featured Blade Runner 2099, starring Hunter Schafer and Michelle Yeoh, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Horror director Mike Flanagan made his first Comic-Con appearance with a look at his adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie. Netflix brought director Brad Bird, who previewed his new film Ray Gunn. Guillermo del Toro marked the 20th anniversary of Pan’s Labyrinth with Doug Jones and Ivana Baquero.
Gaming
Insomniac Games held a panel for Marvel’s Wolverine, the PlayStation 5 action game due September 15, 2026.
The bigger picture
Comic-Con also confirmed it will stay in San Diego through at least 2030. Even with Marvel back, several Hollywood studios skipped the show, and reporters noted the convention is slowly shifting its focus back toward comics.
Key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 22 (Preview Night) – July 26, 2026 |
| Venue | San Diego Convention Center |
| Expected attendance | 135,000+ |
| Biggest reveal | Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider (2028) |
| First-time studio | Apple TV+ |
| Avengers: Doomsday release | December 18, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What was announced at SDCC 2026? The biggest news was Marvel’s Ghost Rider film with Ryan Gosling, a December 2028 date for Black Panther III and new Avengers: Doomsday footage.
Did Marvel return to Hall H in 2026? Yes. Marvel Studios returned after skipping its film panel in 2025.
When is Avengers: Doomsday released? December 18, 2026, in theaters.
