Avengers: Doomsdaycould include the return of one of theMarvel Cinematic Universe’s most powerful villains, as a new tease includes an unexpected connection.Josh Brolin’s Thanos was the main villain of the MCU’s Infinity Saga. The character led to one of the most shocking endings in movie history, as Thanos snapped half the universe away inAvengers: Infinity War.
With Thanos dead — killed twice inAvengers: Endgame— the MCU has now moved on to a villain I believe to be even better, Doctor Doom. Before that, the studio had other plans for the Multiverse Saga, but afterKang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors was fired by Marvel,Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom became the main villain of the MCU.
That does not mean he will be the only villain in Marvel’s highly anticipatednew Avengers movies. After all,multiple superhero teams have already been confirmed forAvengers: Doomsday, with Fox’s original X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers, and Sam Wilson’s Avengers among them. Doctor Doom could need help from other villains, and a new tease suggests one possible return.
Mephisto Finally Made His MCU Debut In An Iron Man Legacy Series
The Devil Has Long Been Rumored For The MCU
Mephisto is an MCU villain who Marvel fans have waited four years to finally see in the franchise. Back in 2021,Mephisto was the fan-favorite rumor for Disney+‘sWandaVision. While that did not come to pass, the character would be rumored for subsequent Marvel projects, with theWandaVisionspinoffAgatha All Alongname-dropping Mephisto and confirming his existence in the MCU.
Of all the places for the villain to enter the MCU, Marvel Studios sure chose an interesting project for it to happen. Recently,Sacha Baron Cohen debuted as Mephisto inIronheart, the new MCU series focused on Iron Man’s MCU replacement, Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams. The show dealt with the dangers of mixing technology and magic, and Mephisto appeared in the finale.
Cohen’s Mephisto was everything I expected him to be. Like in Marvel Comics,the MCU’s Mephisto is a master manipulator, easily closing deals with The Hood and Ironheart. Mephisto is also extremely powerful, able to open portals, freeze people, and even resurrect Riri’s best friend, Natalie. Mephisto’s debut in an Iron Man-related show before Downey appears as Doctor Doom is intriguing.
Robert Downey Jr. Just Teased Mephisto’s Possible Appearance In Avengers: Doomsday
The Marvel Movie Will Feature At Least One Major MCU Villain
Avengers: Doomsday’s casthas been revealed, but it did not include Mephisto. That said, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has already claimed thatmore actors who will be in the MCU movie have yet to be announced. Given how Marvel revealed theAvengers: Doomsdaycast in March and Mephisto only debuted in July, adding Cohen would have been a spoiler.
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Recently,Robert Downey Jr. shared an Avengers teasewith a new video. AsAvengers: Doomsdayfilming continues,the actor teased two Marvel comics in a new video, and one of them is confirmed to connect to the MCU, while the other is thought-provoking. One of the comics is from the 2015 Secret Wars event, connecting to 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars.
The other isIron Man: Legacy of Doom, which features Doctor Doom and Iron Man fighting on the cover and a storyline that includes Mephisto. Doctor Doom betrays Iron Man, as the two go to Hell, andTony Stark discovers Doom traded him to Mephisto for a magic artifact. Doom claims Mephisto will destroy the world to manipulate Iron Man.
Kevin Feige Already Commented On Mephisto’s MCU Future
Marvel Studios Could Further Develop The MCU’s Supernatural Corner
After Mephisto’s MCU debut inIronheart’s finale, many theories about where he could show up next started to emerge. I have to say that I was initially afraid that Marvel could spend years without using Mephisto, as has been the case for many new characters introduced in the Multiverse Saga. However,it seems like there is a clear plan for Mephisto.
Mephisto was never meant to appear inWandaVision, even though MCU theories were aplenty.
At a press conference (viaGamesRadar+), Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige addressedwhat the future holds for Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto.According to Feige, “the potential is clear” for Mephisto in the MCUnow that the devil has finally arrived. The executive also commented on how Mephisto was never meant to appear inWandaVision, even though MCU theories were aplenty.
Interestingly, Feige also noted how Mephisto played an important part in Thanos’ story in Marvel Comics. The main villain of the Infinity Saga might be dead, butJosh Brolin has already teased that Thanos could return to the MCUin the future. With Mephisto now in the franchise, it is possible that their paths could still cross in the MCU.
How Mephisto Could Fit Into Avengers: Doomsday
The Avengers Movie Could See Doctor Doom Find Allies
I believe there are a couple of ways in which Mephisto could fit intoAvengers: Doomsday’s story. If Robert Downey Jr.’s tease ofIron Man: Legacy of Doomends up connecting to the movie, perhapsDoctor Doom could blame Mephisto for the multiverse’s collapse or his real plans, manipulating the MCU’s heroes to help him like he did Iron Man.
Another possible connection to the comic is that Downey’s Doctor Doom makes a deal with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto inAvengers: Doomsday. In the comic book, he traded Iron Man for a magic artifact.Ironheartalready showed how Mephisto has access to magic, as he gave Parker Robbins a magic hood that turned him invisible, bent bullets, and more.
In exchange for something mysterious, as has been his M.O. in the MCU so far,Mephisto could give Doctor Doom the magic abilities Downey’s villain possesses in the comics. WithAvengers: Doomsdayfilming at the moment, perhaps new casting details could become available soon, which could include Cohen’s Mephisto.
