- Primary Subject: Sacha Baron Cohen’s MCU debut as Mephisto
- Key Update: Marvel expressed initial concerns regarding potential antisemitic backlash before offering Sacha Baron Cohen the role of Mephisto.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: Sacha Baron Cohen revealed Marvel feared antisemitic backlash when casting him as Mephisto, but praised Ironheart's creative team for thoughtfully addressing the historical sensitivity.
Sacha Baron Cohen recently shared that Marvel was worried about his casting as Mephisto over potential antisemitic backlash.
The award-winning actor and comedian made his MCU debut last year when he showed up as Mephisto in the final episode of Ironheart. While it remains to be seen whether it will lead to more appearances, fans are happy that the demon character finally showed up in the MCU after years of teasing.
Why Marvel Had Concerns About Casting Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto
In a recent interview on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast (via Variety), Sacha Baron Cohen addressed his casting as Mephisto in the MCU and his involvement in the Ironheart series.
He claimed that Marvel initially had concerns about casting him as the devil character due to the potential antisemitic backlash that they might receive.
"It was a wonderful meeting when I was offered it. It was primarily, I think, an almost entirely Black producing and directing team," the actor said.
"And they said, ‘We want to offer you Mephisto, but we are aware of the negative association of Jews historically with the devil, and we want to make sure that you’re not insulted by us offering this.’ It was such an amazingly considerate, empathetic thing to say. And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’"
Baron Cohen praised Marvel for their thoughtful consideration and the wonderful experience that he had filming his appearance as Mephisto.
He added, "I think for the Jews out there, sometimes we don’t feel seen. We don’t feel like people can empathize with us, that we are suffering too. And so to have this entirely Black producing and directing team be so empathetic, was a moment of being seen. It was an amazing experience."
However, despite his debut last year, there are still no details yet on whether Mephisto will make another appearance in the MCU or if he will be set up as a major villain moving forward.
What's Next in the MCU
For now, fans can anticipate the release of Avengers: Doomsday. It follows beloved heroes from three distinct universes as they’re set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.
The star-studded cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Simu Liu, Tom Hiddleston, Winston Duke, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Danny Ramirez, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Channing Tatum, Hayley Atwell, Kathryn Newton, and Chris Evans.
The film is slated for release in theaters on December 18. It will also be available on Infinity Vision-certified screens.
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