July 5, 2025: Mephisto– After years of anticipation and teasing, Marvel has finally confirmed one of its most notorious villains is officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The revelation came in the season finale of Ironheart, the new miniseries starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, the brilliant MIT student and superhero who first appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
Throughout the series, Williams faces off against Anthony Ramos’s enigmatic villain Parker Robbins, known as “The Hood,” as she uncovers a sinister plot pitting the realms of magic against technology. After a climactic battle where Williams defeats Robbins, she encounters a mysterious stranger played by Sacha Baron Cohen, who reveals himself as Mephisto—the devil incarnate of the MCU.
Initially mistaking him for another magical villain, Dormammu, Williams quickly realizes the truth as Mephisto offers her a dark deal: he will resurrect her deceased friend Natalie, who has been transformed into artificial intelligence. The episode closes with a chilling scene of Natalie returning to life but visibly corrupted by Mephisto’s influence, marked by disturbing black veins across her skin.
Baron Cohen took to Instagram after the episode’s release, cryptically writing, “The devil is in the details,” further teasing the significance of Mephisto’s arrival.
Fans have long awaited Mephisto’s MCU debut, with the character previously teased across popular shows like WandaVision, Loki, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos. The reaction to his appearance in Ironheart has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing excitement and awe on social media.
“MEPHISTO IS FINALLY HERE! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Four years of waiting finally paid off!” one fan tweeted, while another said, “That ending had me floored! Riri making a deal with Mephisto was insane!”
Viewers also praised Baron Cohen’s chilling performance, calling it “spine-tingling” and “amazing.” Sharp-eyed fans spotted a clever Easter egg during the episode—a spoon reflecting Mephisto’s classic demonic red face, adding an extra layer of detail for longtime Marvel enthusiasts.
Mephisto, inspired by the Faustian character Mephistopheles, first appeared in Marvel comics in 1963 and has been a recurring nemesis for heroes such as Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man.
While the Ironheart finale marks Mephisto’s official entry into the MCU, his future role remains unclear. However, the character plays a major part in Marvel’s Secret Wars comic series, which is slated for a film adaptation in 2027, suggesting his story in the MCU may just be beginning.