Hold up, did the internet just say Ryan Gosling is the next Black Panther? Yes, that’s the latest wild rumor lighting up timelines and sending Marvel fans into a full-blown frenzy. If your first reaction was a mix of confusion, curiosity, and a little bit of huh??, you’re not alone.
From viral fan edits to some eyebrow-raising comic panels, the internet has been buzzing with talk of Gosling possibly stepping into Wakandan armor, and it’s got people doing double-takes. But before you start imagining Barbie’s Ken rocking a Vibranium suit, let’s take a breath.
There’s a lot of noise, a lot of memes, and a fair share of misunderstood clues fueling this firestorm. So, what’s actually going on? Is there any truth to it, or is this just another day in fan-theory land? We’re breaking it all down. No spoilers just yet, but trust, this one’s worth the scroll.
How did the rumors start?
Like most good internet chaos, it all began with a comic book twist and a few viral posts that spiraled out of control. In Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1, fans were introduced to a brand-new character named Ketema, a mysterious figure with blond hair and blue eyes who claims to be the son of T’Challa and steps into the role of Black Panther. Yes, you read that right. A white, blond Black Panther. Naturally, the internet did what it does best: speculate, meme, and start casting imaginary movie roles.
Thanks to Ketema’s striking resemblance to everyone’s favorite Canadian heartthrob, Ryan Gosling, fans started tossing his name around as a “perfect fit” for this unexpected comic-book turn. Add a few slick AI-generated images, some fan-casting TikToks, and a handful of out-of-context tweets, and suddenly the rumor mill was in full swing. Some people even assumed Marvel was planning to introduce Ketema into the MCU and had already cast Gosling in the role.
To be clear, Marvel Studios has made no such announcement. The comic and the MCU are separate timelines, and fan edits are not official confirmations. Still, the visual connection between Ketema and Gosling was enough to send social media spiraling into a speculative frenzy.
Is Ryan Gosling really stepping into the Black Panther suit?
Let’s cut to the chase, no, Ryan Gosling is not playing the next Black Panther. Despite the internet spiraling into a frenzy, there has been zero official confirmation, hint, or even whisper from Marvel Studios suggesting he’s involved in any Black Panther-related project. The buzz seems to have been entirely fan-fueled, sparked by the Ketema storyline in the comics and Gosling’s coincidental resemblance to the character.
To be fair, Ryan Gosling’s name frequently pops up in superhero fan-casts because he’s charming, has action cred (Drive, The Gray Man, Blade Runner 2049), and just gave us a scene-stealing Ken in Barbie. But so far, the actor hasn’t been tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in any capacity. In fact, in previous interviews, Gosling has expressed interest in roles like Ghost Rider, but never mentioned anything about Wakanda.
As for the MCU’s future Black Panther? That’s still T’Challa’s legacy, and after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it’s clear Marvel is focusing on Shuri (Letitia Wright) and continuing the story within Wakandan roots. There’s no sign they’re heading in a direction that would introduce Ketema, especially not in live-action form. So, while the theory makes for a fun “what if,” it’s just a theory, not a reality.
What’s the deal with Black Panther 3? Who’s in, and when’s it coming?
While Marvel Studios hasn’t dropped an official “It’s happening!” just yet, the vibes are all pointing in that direction. Letitia Wright (aka Shuri, our current Black Panther queen) casually teased in an interview that the next film is “in the works,” then kind of walked it back, but honestly, the damage was done. Fans are ready.
And if that wasn’t enough to get you hyped, here’s the real kicker: Denzel freakin’ Washington is reportedly joining the cast. Yes, you read that right. Director Ryan Coogler himself said he wrote a role just for him. Talk about a power move. We don’t know who he’ll play yet, but come on, with Denzel onboard, the stakes just skyrocketed.
As for when we’ll actually get to sit in a theater and see it all go down? Marvel’s got Black Panther 3 slotted for February 2028. That’s a bit of a wait, sure, but if Coogler’s track record is anything to go by, it’ll be worth every second. So yeah, the next chapter of Wakanda is on its way—just not tomorrow.
Watch Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever now on Disney+. And read Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1 now on the Marvel Unlimited app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
