SAN DIEGO — Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con with dancing Deadpool variants and a choir for a panel that included news about the next two “Avengers” films and surprise guests, including Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr.

Downey is returning to Marvel’s films, but not as Iron Man. He’ll play the villain Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom, in at least one of the upcoming “Avengers” movies. Downey kicked off Marvel’s movie successes in “Iron Man” and played the popular character in nine films, but on Saturday appeared wearing Dr. Doom's mask and a green cloak.

“New mask, same task,” Downey said to frenzied cheers.

The Russo brothers, who will be directing the movie featuring Downey, said his appearance in the film is “proof of the unimaginable possibilities in the Marvel multi-universe.”

The reveal capped a jubilant return by Marvel to Comic-Con’s Hall H.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige kicked off the panel by saying that due to this weekend's success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe had now topped $30 billion in box-office earnings. In a nod to a scene in the movie, a choir sang Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” before Feige spoke.

“Deadpool & Wolverine,” released Thursday, has already broken one record and could shatter more in its opening weekend. Feige used Saturday’s panel to chart the course ahead for the MCU, revealing Ford’s character in the next “Captain America” film and revealing “Avengers: Secret Wars and “Avengers: Doomsday” as the titles of the next two films in the epic superhero team-up series. “Doomsday” will hit theaters in 2026.

Feige said all the actors introduced Saturday would appear in the upcoming “Avengers” movies, which will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The brothers guided the “Avengers” franchise through its sprawling storyline capped by “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019 that included the death of Downey's Tony Stark/Iron Man character.

“When we directed “Avengers: Endgame,” Joe and I truly believed that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because we had put all of our passion, our love, our imagination into “The Winter Soldier,” into “Civil War,” into “Infinity War,” climaxing all of it with “Avengers: Endgame,” Anthony Russo said. “That four movie run was incredible and it left us creatively spent with all of our emotions on the film. In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you.”

They called “Secret Wars” the “biggest story that Marvel Comics ever told,” and Joe said it was the first comic book run he read as a child that made him “fall in love with comics.”

Saturday's session comes after Marvel skipped the convention last year due to the Hollywood strikes, which prevented writers and actors from speaking on panels.

The cast of “Captain America: Brave New World” — Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez and Anthony Mackie — joined the stage first and teased details about the upcoming film. Esposito revealed that he will be playing the villain, Seth Voelker, also known as Sidewinder.

When asked about what it was like to join a Marvel project, Esposito said it was a “dream come true.

“When your dreams come true and you get the call, you walk through the door,” he continued. “I have a great deal of gratitude for all the fans who really had this dream come true, because it was fan casting that linked us together.”

The cast then stepped aside to share a scene from the movie on the big screen, which revealed that President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, played by Ford, is hoping to rebuild the Avengers with Mackie’s Sam Wilson. It also showed Ford’s character transform into the Red Hulk.

Ford joined the panel after fans were treated to clips from the movie and flexed his muscles to the roaring crowd. He also expressed excitement over his latest role, saying, “I am delighted, and proud to become a member of the Marvel Universe.”

The cast and director of “Thunderbolts*” also surprised fans with a short clip from the movie. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour (in full costume and speaking in character as the Red Guardian at first) stormed the stage and shared some more details about their characters.

The film is slated to be released in May 2025.

The final film teased at the panel was “The Fantastic Four,” starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The movie will begin filming on Tuesday in London, Feige said.

He said the film will hit theaters in almost exactly one year in July 2025.

Following a video director Matt Shakman created specifically for Comic-Con that featured the cast in full ’60s glory, he and Feige revealed the official title of the film, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

The session included no mention of Jonathan Majors, who played the villain Kang the Conqueror and was previously a major part of Marvel’s “Avengers” plans. The actor was fired by the studio after he was convicted in December of assaulting a former girlfriend. He was sentenced to a yearlong counseling program in April and avoided jail time.

Marvel already took over Hall H on Thursday with an electric panel celebrating “Deadpool & Wolverine,” in which the audience was treated to a full screening and surprise guests joining stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on stage.

The mounting enthusiasm for the film at Comic-Con was reflected across the country as the fans rushed to see it in theaters, securing the film as the new record holder for the Thursday preview for an R-rated movie. The comic book film sold an estimated $38.5 million worth of movie tickets from preview screenings Thursday.

The “Deadpool & Wolverine” success woke up a sleepy year for Marvel and assuaged worries about its box-office underperformance in late 2023. The superhero factory hit a record low in November with the launch of “The Marvels,” which opened with just $47 million.

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Lady Gaga seemingly revealed her engagement to Michael Polansky while attending the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The “Bad Romance” singer, 38, introduced Polansky as “my fiancé” when meeting French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. Attal shared a video of the meeting on TikTok.

“Thank you Lady Gaga for your stunning performance at the opening ceremony,” Attal captioned the post, apparently unaware that he was breaking major international celebrity news. “It was breathtaking.”

Neither Gaga, whose legal name is Stefani Germanotta, nor Polansky has publicly confirmed the news. The duo previously sparked engagement rumors in April, when Gaga was spotted with a diamond ring on her left ring finger.

Polansky, a tech entrepreneur, and Gaga were first spotted together kissing at a New Year’s Eve Party as 2020 began. They were also seen at the Super Bowl just over a month later in Miami.

However, the two have largely kept their relationship away from the public eye. Gaga made a rare reference to Polansky in a 2021 Hollywood Reporter interview in which she said, “My dogs and the man that I love are my whole life.”

In October 2023, after Gaga made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” she and Polansky were spotted together at the cast afterparty.

Gaga has not been married previously, but she has been engaged twice. In February 2015, she said yes to “Chicago Fire” star Taylor Kinney, but they broke things off the next year. A few years later, she got engaged to talent agent Christian Carino, but they separated in February 2019.

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NEW YORK — Shakespeare in the Park is rolling out Hollywood heavy hitters for its much-anticipated return to Central Park next summer, with Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and Emmy winner Peter Dinklage set to lead the cast of “Twelfth Night.”

“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Killing Eve” star Sandra Oh has also signed on for the Bard’s beloved comedy, along with “Modern Family” alum and Tony Award-winner Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

The production will serve as the main attraction at the Delacorte Theater when it reopens after two years of renovations next August.

“‘Twelfth Night’ is the epitome of joy,” said Public Theater Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali, who is helming the production.

Ali most recently worked with Nyong’o — who refers to the fellow Kenyan as her “brother from another mother”— on The Public’s bilingual audio adaptation of “Romeo y Julieta.” Nyong’o will take on the starring role of Viola in the upcoming production.

Dinklage, who won a record four Emmy Awards for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his work on “Game of Thrones,” will portray Malvolio, while Ferguson will bring his comedic chops to the dim-witted character of Andrew Aguecheek.

Oh, with a Public Theater pedigree including the plays“Stop Kiss” and “Satellites,” will star as wealthy countess Olivia.

The Delacorte has been closed since last fall when ground was broken for renovations. According to The Public, no meaningful upgrades to the venue had been done since 1999.

Its existing seats, risers and facade have all been demolished, and work is being done to address structural issues with the remainder of the building.

“Ali directs this joyful romp welcoming all of New York back to the magic of Central Park’s beloved theater,” the Public said on its website. “Be there when the stage lights turn on again at The Delacorte with this high-powered production of the Bard’s classic comedy.”

From combined wire services