It's been years, but it is finally set to happen. Ever since the Multiverse Saga kicked off, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have waited eagerly for the arrival of one character in particular. This has resulted in seeing teases where there weren't any and picking up on teases that were definitely there. There were fan theories, discussions, and a lot of overthinking that the studio was finally going to make it happen in Phase Four.
It didn't happen in Phase Four, and as the titles went on it seemed as if the MCU truly wasn't planning on introducing the character. That is, until Phase Five featured the namedrop we've all been waiting for. And now, the franchise's current title is reportedly setting the stage for the character's long overdue arrival.
Yes, it seems that Mephisto is on his way to the MCU.
Mephisto expected to debut in Marvel's Ironheart
You didn't read that wrong. It seems that, after years of teases, conspiracy theories, and Marvel fans getting their hopes up, Mephisto is finally coming to the MCU. It's been rumored for some time now, but it's hard to hold onto a rumor when it comes to a franchise as ever-expanding and ever-changing as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Literally anything can happen in the MCU - and it has before, many many times. But this time, it doesn't seem like it's a rouse.
Marvel Studios has officially taken to social media to tease a big arrival in the franchise in this Tuesday's coming episodes of Ironheart. Posting an image of a figure in a hood, the studio's official accounts captioned it with: "On Tuesday, he finally arrives". And yes, fans are now convinced that it's Mephisto. But at this point, they didn't need the photo to tell them that.
Although Ironheart is a mostly technologically-based show, there is also the element of magic in it. That aspect of the show stems completely from the involvement of The Hood, Parker Robbins. His mysterious hood has mystical properties, presenting him with gifts such as super-strength, invisibility, fighting abilities and durability. However, the gift comes with a curse, as it creates dark scarring all over his body that he has attempted to cover with tattoos.
When things didn't go The Hood's way in the third episode of the series, he tore the hood off and began talking to another presence in the room. With the thunder and lightning picking up, and a horrific vision of what really happened to Parker's cousin (along with Riri's involvement in it), it became clear that a dark presence was in the room with him.
For years now, Sacha Baron Cohen has been rumored to be a part of the Ironheart cast, with reports claiming that he will be portraying Mephisto. Well, that's looking pretty likely now, let's be honest.
Mephisto has had an overarching presence in the MCU ever since fans speculated that he might have had some involvement in the events of 2021's WandaVision. Although he did not, he eventually was name-dropped in spinoff Agatha All Along in 2024, meaning that Marvel was finally ready to lay the groundwork for his arrival. And given that Ironheart was actually filmed in 2022, that arrival may have been originally intended to come to fruition much sooner than it has.
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