These 20 actors could bring the Marvel Comics character Mephisto to life in different ways in the MCU.
Thanos is gone and we assume dead. The demise of the MCU’s Mad Titan in Avengers: Endgame left a void in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s tough when your first real big bad is someone as major as Thanos because now you have big shoes to fill. Thankfully, Marvel Comics has more than enough villains to choose from. Everything from galactic bearings to the ones on Earth are an option. There’s also the option to bring back Hela, Ultron, or aforementioned Thanos. We know Thanos was dusted away, but we don’t know for certain that he’s dead.
There’s also another villain that the MCU hasn’t used. One of the Lords of Hell: Mephisto.
Mephisto isn’t the Devil that we know from the Bible. That’s a completely different Devil (yes, Satan exists in Marvel Comics). Mephisto lords over a different part of the underworld. While he resides in Hell, he spends time on Earth and beyond. He’s like Crowley from Supernatural. He makes deals with beings in return for their soul and other things. Mephisto’s most well-known deal turned Johnny Blaze into the Ghost Rider.
Mephisto is sneaky, but always follows his deals to the letter. He just knows how to manipulate people. He doesn’t get his hands dirty, but he’s dangerous nonetheless. He’d be a perfect character for an upcoming phase in the MCU – someone who can move chess pieces behind the scenes for a long time to come.
Here are 20 actors who could portray this devilish character in the MCU.
Sterling K. Brown
This writer’s first introduction to Sterling K. Brown was in Supernatural. He played a deplorable character so well that it was difficult to like him in anything else. That’s how good he is. Fans of This is Us and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel know that there isn’t much he can’t do.
You’re thinking, “He can’t play Mephisto. He was already in the MCU in Black Panther.” That’s the beauty of technology however. He could voice Mephisto and we’d never have to see his face. The award-winning actor would bring a smoothness to Mephsito. Something needed when he’s trying to persuade someone into taking a deal or unknowingly doing his bidding.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch is an accomplished actor with a ton of credits to her name. We’ve seen her play the iconic cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester in Glee, voice a tough military leader in Wreck-It-Ralph, and she’s been both conniving and funny in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. One thing she can also do oh-so-well is play mean and angry.
Seeing her sitting on a throne while people suffer would be a site to behold. Picture this scene: Someone is pleading for their soul and from the mouth of Mephisto is an evil laugh from Jane Lynch. It could be creepy and memorable. She also has a captivating presence that says, “I’m the most important person here.” When you’re playing a villain in the MCU, this is a must have.
Tony Todd
This one was a no brainer. We’ve seen Tony Todd play evil on a couple of occasions. First, he was the scary Candyman in the 1990s franchise – a character that’s still feared to this day. He also played the enigmatic Mr. Bludworth in the Final Destination movies. We don’t know exactly who he was in those movies, but we know he’s attached to death.
Tony Todd also stands at six feet five inches. If Marvel Studios doesn’t CGI Mephisto, they now have an actor who can tower over the MCU heroes. If they do, he still has a voice that would echo through every layer of Hell.
Cary Elwes
Who doesn’t love Cary Elwes? He was in one of the most popular movies of all time The Princess Bride and he recently appeared in the third season of Stranger Things. He also has the hearts of millions of nerds around the world because of his previous roles, so bringing him in gets more butts in seats. Plus, he’s an incredible actor.
This may not be your classic Mephisto, but he’d still rock this role. Elwes won’t have the evil voice that the previous actors do. What he brings is a persuasive and sometimes condescending tone. That could be just as good. Evil can be worse when it’s coming from a friendly voice. It makes it easier to accept.
Lakeith Stanfield
This isn’t the first and it won’t be the last time this writer brings Lakeith Stanfield’s name into an article. Stanfield has continued to pop up all over the place. What’s even better is that he can play any role.
In Atlanta, he plays a goofy character who has a lot of depth. In Knives Out he portrays a more grounded character in a detective. In Death Note, he played a very strange but intelligent character. All of these roles (among his others) highlight different elements he can bring to the table.
Furthermore, his voice is soft and deep, so when Mephisto is speaking, it would be almost hypnotic to his prey.
Rachel Bloom
Hopefully this writer won’t lose you here. Rachel Bloom isn’t known for playing serious roles. She’s the beloved star of the musical show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. However, we’ve seen that comedy vets also make for great dramatic actors. There’s no reason to believe Bloom can’t do the same here.
However, let’s not act like it was all hijinx in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. There were more than a few moments in this show where the talented actress had to show range. The character’s depression narrative and her occasionally crazy antics prove that Bloom can do so much more than sing and make us laugh. She has more talent than we often see. Portraying Mephisto in the MCU could be a platform to bring it out.
Viola Davis
You’re looking at one of the most accomplished actors in all of Hollywood. There is literally nothing she can’t do. Go ahead. Try and think of something she can’t.
While you think, picture this image: The Avengers have been fooled. They find out who’s been playing them and then Viola Davis shows up. She’s been Mephisto this entire time. She has a slight smirk. Just enough to annoy our heroes. Then, she says, “You’re too late, heroes. I’ve already won.”
If you need an example of how captivating she is, just watch the way that she commands respect in How To Get Away With Murder.
She could be portray evil in a way that we don’t see often. Just look at how great she was in the otherwise critically-reviled Suicide Squad as Amanda Waller. That’s just a glimpse of the greatness she’s capable of. And that’s greatness the MCU could benefit from.
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston played a monster in Breaking Bad. In some cases, he was like the devil himself. As Walter White, he did things that were unforgivable. He poisoned a kid, watched as someone his “friend” loved choked in her sleep, and he said he did this because he cared. In the end, he finally admits that he did it for himself.
We’ve seen him use an evil, gruff voice and give speeches that were bone chilling. He wouldn’t have to change the Walter White persona much to play Mephisto and who wouldn’t want to see him play a role similar to the one on Breaking Bad?
Jim Carrey
Over his 30-plus year career, Jim Carrey has made an unforgettable impression on us by giving us all comedic roles that will live forever. Within his comedies, he’s shown a tremendous amount of range. Liar, Liar, The Cable Guy, and Bruce Almighty are examples of how his performances are more than just jokes and slapstick. He added that little bit more to his roles throughout – especially The Cable Guy. His portrayal of an obsessive guy was incredible. We could also use The Number 23 and The Truman Show to display his range as well.
It’s doubtful that people would respond well to a Mephisto that’s bouncing off the walls with energy. But, as it’s been pointed out, Jim Carrey can play any kind of Mephisto Marvel asks for. Since the MCU is more family friendly, this could work better than we think.
In the How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Carrey was a goofy Grinch, but not so much that it was annoying. There was a perfect balance of evil and silly. This is most likely the direction Marvel will go with Mephisto. MCU movies aren’t DCEU dark. They have grim moments, but it’s doubtful we’ll see Hell as it’s perceived in various lore. Because of this, we could be looking at a new kind of Mephisto – someone who wouldn’t give kids nightmares but that could also make fans happy. Jim Carrey is the right actor for this kind of job.
Eva Green
Eva Green is a personal favorite. If she’s playing the villain in a movie or show, this writer is all in.
She’s been in two movies that weren’t well-received; Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and 300: Rise of an Empire. However, those movies may not have done well, but she absolutely rocked those roles. She was every bit as evil as you’d want, giving us characters that were such seductresses that you’d imagine would make it difficult to say no to. Isn’t that what we’d want from Mephisto?
It absolutely is. Someone like Eva Green would do numbers on the heroes in the MCU. She could play the devil flat out or pull off the human vessel approach before building up to her true form.
Lena Headey
When the book on the greatest villains of all time is written, Game of Thrones’ Cersei Lannister will be among the top five or ten.
Lena Heady was wicked. The character’s best moment was watching her come into power. She bided her time and took all the punishment necessary – definitely more than she wanted. In the end, it was worth it. She became the Queen.
But Headey’s been entertaining us long before and during her time as Cersei. In Dredd, she played a ruthless crime boss named Ma-Ma – a woman so intimidating that even the biggest of men feared her. Both patience and intimidation are characteristics that describe Mephisto.
Yup, Lena would make a near flawless devil for Marvel Studios’ MCU.
Willem Dafoe
Seriously, how hasn’t this been a topic? Willem Dafoe is a scary guy. Even his smile can look devilish if he wants it to.
Remember him in the first Spider-Man movie? He went from this weak and fearful businessman to psychotic villain in literal seconds. The scene where he’s talking to himself in the mirror is all the example we need.
In this one movie, Willem Dafoe displayed a variety of different personalities. All of which prove that he can play a character with the power to destroy the Marvel Cinematic Universe without even using his powers. He can do it with his manipulative words.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis has been a star since before a lot of us were born. In 1978, she starred in Halloween. A classic horror story. In 1983, she starred beside Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd in Trading Places. While the stars are great, this movie just may not have worked without her.
Recently, she’s taken roles in Scream Queens and Knives Out – projects in which she was more diabolical than her earlier roles. Those parts are the reason she makes this list. On top of her fantastic list of roles over the years, she’s become someone who can do more than be the hero. She can be the one we despise. The one we fear.
Mark Sheppard
Mark Sheppard already has the résumé to play this villain. He literally played a crossroad demon and then the King of Hell. What else can you ask for? For over 10 years, he played Crowley in Supernatural. He’s been serious, goofy, and the personification of immoral. Despite all that, you couldn’t help but love him. Even when he was a guy who’s been more than happy to deceive his way to the top (or bottom) of Hell.
Mark Sheppard also has proved he can do this on a PG-13 level. Not just in Supernatural, but in Leverage when he played Jim Sterling – an antagonist who was willing to do whatever it took to win. He’s the kind of actor who’d fit in perfectly as a Marvel Studios villain.
Zachary Quinto
Zachary Quinto has played the antagonist many times. However, for some reason we don’t acknowledge him like he should. In Heroes, he was a big part of that show working. His portrayal of Sylar is one of the best characters we’ve seen on a TV show. When the show got bad, it wasn’t because of him. He was always the best part.
In American Horror Story, he did it again. He played two separate characters that were unnervingly happy with their horrific actions. His particular style may be too frightening for the rating, but he has the range to play the role. It would have been cool to see him play Mephisto alongside Thanos like in Secret Wars.
Clancy Brown
If Mephisto doesn’t actually appear in a live-action form without some CGI, he would need to be voiced by an actor with a great voice. Clancy Brown could very well be the person to make that happen by voicing him as a CGI character.
Brown has voiced some of our favorite characters over the years, including Lex Luthor in Superman: The Animated Series, Mr. Freeze in The Batman, Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants and Surter in Thor: Ragnarok.
It may seem weird to have him play two roles in the MCU, but with a voice actor, it may not be that serious of an issue – especially when this is the man who’s voiced Hades in God of War 3.
Some people may recognize the voice, but it won’t matter. He’d be so well-received that fans will embrace it.
Keith David
Keith David is a legend. This writer’s first experience with him was Frank in They Live. No matter how iconic he was in that, it’s not that role that makes him a perfect pick, it’s his voice acting – in particular Dr. Facilier in Princess and the Frog and Spawn in Spawn.
As Dr. Facilier, he was an immoral witch doctor with a smooth tongue. As Spawn, he had this low voice that seemed foul and unholy. Someone with his kind of range as a voice actor could do anything that’s required of him, so it goes without saying that he’d be a great addition to the MCU.
Kevin Michael Richardson
If you’re not a fan of voice actors, you may not know who this is. Although, this writer can almost guarantee that you’ve heard his voice before. He was Goro in the original Mortal Kombat movie, The Joker in The Batman, Captain Gantu in Lilo and Stitch, and multiple characters in Family Guy, The Simpsons, and American Dad.
If you take a quick glance at his IMDB page, you’ll see that he has over 500 different credits to his name. You’ll no doubt find yourself saying, “that was him in that show?”
Yep, an actor with this kind of skill would nail this role, bringing Mephisto to life with ease.
Cree Summer
Another voice actor who you may not know by name, however, Cree Summer has been all over the place. She’s done video games (Star Wars: The Old Republic – Onslaught and Destiny 2: Forsaken) and multiple cartoon characters like Numbuh 5, Catwoman, and Vixen. She isn’t someone that jumps at you when you think of Mephisto, but she could easily get the job done.
You don’t have over 20 years of voice acting without being able to be more than a few different voices. Cree Summer has a more lighthearted tone to her voices. That said, imagine someone with that voice being evil? It can lure people to a false sense of security. Making it seem even more devious when she strikes.
Summer could be a delight in the role.
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito is one of the many reasons this article was written. He recently made his presence felt in a trailer for the new season of The Boys asthe heartless CEO of Vought International. It seems like the perfect role for him – no doubt probably reminding everyone of how amazing he was as Gus in Breaking Bad (as if we could forget). Along with his portrayal of Gus, he recently played Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian – once again showing how unscrupulous he can be. For him, it’s all about the bottom line. It can be money, power, or just a job.
Espostio can play a hero, but he’s much better at being the villain.
Giancarlo Esposito voiced Akela in the Jungle Book – a wolf who had to be a leader with a strong voice. This means that he can play Mephisto, even if it’s just the voice. One example, but a good one nonetheless. While that would be fine, we should see him in person.
His mannerisms and facial expressions help make him the phenomenal actor we see today. When he wants to be conniving or evil, he doesn’t need to speak. The look on his face is enough. He has this smile that lets the audience know that something nefarious is about to happen.
He’d be the perfect choice and could maybe even thrill Marvel Comics fans more than any other actor in Hollywood.
In conclusion
You’ve probably noticed that there weren’t a lot of A-List actors on this list. That’s because Mephisto needs a specific kind of actor. Since a lot of people don’t know much about him, this gives Marvel Studios an opportunity to be bold; creating a Mephisto that will last for decades. They’ve done this with Killmonger and again with Thanos.
Sure, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, or Meryl Streep could knock this out the park. However, look at this list. We have a variety of actors who you may not have thought of, but ones that would undoubtedly make fans happy.
There are plenty more that could be mentioned. There’s Phil Lamarr. He’s one of the best voice actors of all time. Clarence Williams III who played the Devil in Tales from the Hood. Or how about Hugo Weaving? He’s proven that he can deliver breathtaking performances. A villain of this magnitude deserves the best. Let’s give this role to someone who can take Mephisto and make him one of the greatest villains of all time.
What do you think? Would you like to see Mephisto show up in the MCU? Who would you cast as Mephisto if he were to debut in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below.