Those MCU Mephisto Rumors Get A Subtle Boost By Casting Report

Mephisto’s anticipated arrival in the MCU has been consigned to the rumor mill for years now, but a recent casting report has given those rumors yet another boost. As Marvel’s answer to the devil himself, Mephisto is the kind of villain that would suitably up the stakes of any situation, even as the arch-villain of an entire MCU saga. He is an exceptionally powerful inter-dimensional being that presides over a pocket dimension he dubs “hell,” though he only calls it that to mess with humans. His proximity to alternate dimensions would suggest that he would be a better fit for a hero like Doctor Strange or Scarlet Witch, but a particularly compelling casting report rumor has thrown such assumptions into disarray.

Marvel recently began registering copyrights (via The Cosmic Circus) for a slew of upcoming MCU Phase 5 shows, with the final among them being Ironheart. The Ironheart cast listings include a particularly striking name in the form of Sacha Baron Cohen, who is apparently playing “Mystery Man.” Given that Sacha Baron Cohen has been rumored to be playing Mephisto – specifically in Ironheart – for at least a year, it is no wonder that this particularly conspicuous casting has re-sparked the rumors. Despite sounding like he could be, Mystery Man is not a Marvel character – and Sacha Baron Cohen is too big of a name to attach to some minor player.

Mephisto’s MCU Debut Would Pay Off MCU TV’s Oldest Rumors

The rumors of Mephisto’s involvement in the MCU have been swirling for far longer than a year, however. One of the most frustrating aspects of WandaVision was the incessant teasing of Mephisto, from numerous references to devils, demons, and the number of the beast to the fact that Wanda’s children were so closely tied to Mephisto in the comics. None of these references ever paid off, however, leaving the question hanging over whether these small details ever meant anything at all – other than their relation to the occultist themes of the show.

The fact of the matter, however, is that the MCU rarely, if ever, includes such things by mistake. While the teases within WandaVision ultimately came to naught, there is every possibility that Marvel was simply playing the long game. The possibility that Mephisto will appear in Ironheart, perhaps as the entity that bestows powers on Parker Robbins (AKA The Hood), is now very real and a sign that Mephisto’s role in the MCU will spread across multiple movies. With Sacha Baron Cohen’s role being so clandestine, however, it seems like the rumors must remain rumors for a little while yet.