Sacha Baron Cohen has reportedly been cast as the MCU's newest supervillain

Although it's not yet confirmed, we can hope

Now this is a casting choice we can get behind.

Sacha Baron Cohen in the MCU? Very nice! The 'Borat', 'Bruno' and 'Ali G' comic has reportedly joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a roll that sounds like the perfect fit for the oddball actor.

According to reports and Marvel fan rumour speculation, Cohen's name has been dropped on the set of 'Ironheart', a forthcoming Disney+ series which is currently filming in Atlanta. Production will soon move to Chicago, but more interestingly, the actor has also been spotted at the Marvel facilities located at Pinewood Studios outside of London.

And the character he's rumoured to be playing? Mephisto. The monstrous villain hasn't yet appeared on screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he does share close ties with a superhero/villain in particular - Wanda Maximoff. Fans believe that since the release of 'WandaVision' that Marvel Studios has slowly been setting up this red devil's arrival on screen.

It’s just a rumor. But a promising one. 😈 How we feeling about Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto? pic.twitter.com/slqQVBRFIF

— New Rockstars (@NewRockstars) October 18, 2022

But who is Mephisto? First created by Stan Lee and the artist John Buscema in 1963, the character is obviously inspired by The Devil and has a long list of adversaries including Spider-Man, The Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, and Doctor Strange. The evil-doer has long held a dark presence in multiple Marvel Comics storylines over the years, including in the Secret Wars narrative as well as whispering in the ear of another great Marvel villain - Doctor Doom.

Mephisto is quite a character, dealing heavily in Faustian Bargains - giving a person something that they want for a heavy cost. Now that Wanda has turned herself into The Scarlet Witch since the events of 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' (and is definitely about to make a return), could she upset the universe once again with a plea with The Devil himself? She didn't get her fairytale ending with her children Billy and Tommy after all...

But... haven't we seen Mephisto before? Yep, those awful Nicolas Cage 'Ghost Rider' films featured two versions of the demonic character - first by Peter Fonda in the first 2007 film, and then by our own Ciarán Hinds in the franchise's abysmal 2012 sequel 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'.

Hopefully we'll get confirmation on his rumoured casting very soon - although this is Marvel, so don't hold your breath. Should all the rumours be true, expect to see him in 'Ironheart' (release date autumn 2023) and potentially 'Agatha: Coven of Chaos' (winter 2023).

In our minds, we're picturing a HIM from 'The Powerpuff Girls' level of commitment to the role from Cohen. Camp and crazy? Here's hoping!