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Tag: sacha-baron-cohen

  • How Mephisto Can Return In The MCU After ‘Ironheart’ Debut

    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.
    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.

    Preview: 

    • Sacha Baron Cohen makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’.
    • Mephisto makes a deal with Riri Williams to bring back her friend Natalie, which is sure to have serious consequences.
    • Mephisto will likely be a big part of the MCU moving forward. 

    SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for ‘Ironheart’ below.

    Ever since ‘WandaVision‘, Marvel fans have been speculating when and where Mephisto will show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now the time has finally come. Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the demon in ‘Ironheart‘, making his debut in the season one finale. While the Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) led series may not continue with a season two, Mephisto is likely not going anywhere, and is sure to have a major impact on the future of the MCU.

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    There is a reason fans have been begging for Mephisto to show up. He is known for making deals and mucking things up. While he looks like the devil, he is not Lucifer, but he certainly allows others to think he is. In Marvel Comics he has ties to many characters that have already been introduced, most notably Scarlet Witch, Thor, and Doctor Strange, as well as others that are coming soon including Doctor Doom and Franklin Richards.

    Related Article: Why Marvel Skipping Hall H At SDCC 2025 Actually Makes Perfect Sense

    What Mephisto’s Introduction Means For The MCU

    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.
    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.

    Mephisto is powerful, extra-dimensional demon. As showcased in ‘Ironheart’ he is a master manipulator who almost always gets his way. His deal with Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) corrupted him, leaving him with scars all over his body and an obsession with the cloak he was gifted. When Mephisto decided to be done with him, he simply moved onto his next victim, Riri Williams.

    While the demon behind Parker’s hood was initially suspected to be Dormamu, the finale reveals that this is not the truth. It is, indeed, Mephisto, something that is sure to make fans jump up and down with glee, since his debut in the MCU has been long-awaited. During his final conversation with Parker, he admits to being very busy, hinting that he has had his hands in a lot of the events that have been taking place over the course of previous Marvel projects.

    Ironheart/Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) in Marvel Television's 'Ironheart'. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2024 MARVEL. All Rights Reserved.
    Ironheart/Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) in Marvel Television’s ‘Ironheart’. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2024 MARVEL. All Rights Reserved.

    After Riri defeats Parker, Mephisto appears to her, inviting her to sit down for a meal. He is very charasmatic and during their conversation, she ends up making a deal with him. Her friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) was murdered, but she was able to bring her back as an AI, only to lose her again. This is something that Riri is not able to deal with, so she asks Mephisto to bring her back.

    In the end-credit sequence it is discovered that this is not an AI version of Natalie, but rather the actual Natalie, who is very confused and does not remember her fate. This is likely to cause a lot of problems for Riri going forward, because how to you explain someone returning to the world after being dead for several years?

    Why Sacha Baron Cohen Is The Perfect Casting Choice For Mephisto

    Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in 'Ironheart'. Photo: Disney+.
    Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’. Photo: Disney+.

    Casting Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto is a brilliant choice for several reasons. All you have to do is take one look at his scenes in the ‘Ironheart’ finale to know this. He is able portray someone who is trusting as well as mischievous. His human form is unsuspecting enough, but it is the fact that he knows how to pull information from his victims to discover what would be worth it to them to forfeit their souls.

    For Parker Robbins, he wanted revenge against his father and money. For Riri Williams, she just wants her friend back, especially after getting a taste of what it was like to have her back in her life. The kicker for her is that this version of Natalie will not remember all of the healing and growing they did together when Natalie was an AI.

    Sacha Baron Cohen is great at playing a character. We have seen that with his films like ‘Borat‘ and ‘Bruno‘. Even though Mephisto is mostly in his human form, there is one quick shot of him in his demon form, seen in a reflection, that is equal parts chilling and exciting. Sacha Baron Cohen, if given the chance, will bring Mephisto to life in a way that fans could seemingly only have imagined.

    Mephisto Can Easily Return In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Or ‘Champions’

    'Avengers: Doomsday'.
    ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    What fans have seen in the ‘Ironheart’ finale is just a small glimpse at what Mephisto is capable of. In the comics, he is the reason that Billy and Tommy Maximoff even exist. While they were created by their mother’s chaos magic, this was done in tandem with parts of Mephisto. At one point he goes so far as to reabsorb them. However, they find a way to return. This exact scenario is not likely to play out in the MCU, but it would make sense for the twins to cross paths with the Mephisto eventually, likely in a ‘Young Avengers’ or ‘Champions’ title.

    It is not far fetched to believe that Mephisto could have orchestrated the events of ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ as well. As we have seen, he is known for making deals and has the ability to bring people back from the dead. With Robert Downey, Jr. returning to the MCU, this time as Victor Von Doom and not Tony Stark, there is a chance Mephisto could absolutely be behind it. If someone wanted to make a deal with him to bring Stark back, it absolutely makes sense that this was Mephisto’s evil twist on things.

    While it has not been revealed the lasting effect that Mephisto will have on the MCU, there is no way he is being introduced for Marvel to then do nothing with him. He is a powerful, manipulative demon who only has his own best interest at heart. One thing is for sure, our heroes are in trouble now that he is in the mix.

    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.
    Marvel Comics Mephisto. Photo: Marvel.com.

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  • Sacha Baron Cohen Reportedly Cast in Marvel’s ‘Ironheart’

    Sacha Baron Cohen in Netflix's 'The Spy.'
    Sacha Baron Cohen in Netflix’s ‘The Spy.’ Photo by Axel Decis.

    Here’s a fun piece of casting – assuming it turns out to be true and not the latest round of speculation on the MCU’s future. Sacha Baron Cohen, the British comedian best known for the characters of Borat and Ali G, is reportedly taking on the role of devilish villain Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’.

    Should it turn out to be true, Cohen is a surprising get for Marvel, as he’s someone who often prefers to generate his own projects or the odd prestige movie such as ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ and hasn’t shown much interest in superhero work. Still, the lure of Marvel can be strong, and recently pulled Harrison Ford into its orbit.

    Rumors have swirled recently on social media about the idea and now Deadline has tapped its sources at Marvel to report that he has been seen on the show’s set (the company has, of course, refused to officially comment). The majority of the talk points to him playing the demonic role.

    ‘Ironheart’ stars Dominique Thorne as Marvel character Riri Williams, a genius inventor and creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. The character will first appear on screen in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ which is out in theaters on November 11th.

    If Mephisto does indeed make an appearance, the scope is there for future appearances in typical Marvel fashion, including potentially in ‘WandaVision’ spin-off ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’. The prospect of Cohen sharing the screen with Kathryn Hahn is certainly an appealing one.

    Though he’s been rumored to show up before – some thought Doctor Strange would be unmasked as Mephisto in disguise in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ while others believed he was truly the power behind all the chaos in ‘WandaVision’ before Agatha revealed herself. Yet that show’s head writer, Jac Schaeffer confirmed she’d never heard of the character before friend and fellow Marvel show writer Michael Waldron started joking with her about him.

    Marvel Comics' Mephisto.
    Marvel Comics’ Mephisto. Photo courtesy of Marvel.Fandom.com.

    Mephisto, for those (including Schaeffer) who aren’t aware of the character, made his proper Marvel Comics debut in ‘Silver Surfer #3’, and was created by Stan Lee, John Buscema and Jerry Robinson.

    He’s an extra-dimensional Demon who rules a fiery pocket dimension that he calls “Hell” or “Hades” although it is neither the Hell of the Christian religion nor the Hades ruled by Pluto, the Olympian god of the dead. Mephisto calls his extra-dimensional realm “hell” to exploit Earth human beings’ belief in a single being of absolute evil, who is often referred to as Satan.

    The character has bedevilled many a hero and villain in his time, and while he’s more normally found around supernatural characters, it’s sounding like ‘Ironheart’ will have an increasingly magical presence.

    We know, for example, that ‘In The Heights’ Anthony Ramos is playing The Hood, a character who dabbles in sorcery and would be an antagonist for Thorne’s Riri Williams.

    ‘Ironheart’s confirmed cast so far also includes Manny Montana, Shakira Barrera, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Shea Couleé, and Zoe Terakes.

    With Chinaka Hodge as head writer and Samantha Bailey and Angela Barnes sharing the directing work, the six-episode series will debut on Disney+ next year.

    Marvel Studios' 'Ironheart.'
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Ironheart.’
  • 2021 Oscar Nominations

    2021 Oscar Nominations

    Best Picture nominees 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' 'Nomadland,' 'Promising Young Woman,' 'Sound of Metal,' 'Mank,' 'Minari,' 'Trial of the Chicago 7,' & 'The Father'
    Best Picture nominees ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Promising Young Woman,’ ‘Sound of Metal,’ ‘Mank,’ ‘Minari,’ ‘Trial of the Chicago 7,’ & ‘The Father’

    Early in the morning on March 15th, Nick Jonas and Prianka Chopra-Jonas announced the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards. Here are the nominees for this years’ awards:

    BEST PICTURE

    ‘The Father’
    ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
    ‘Mank’
    ‘Minari’
    ‘Nomadland’
    ‘Promising Young Woman’
    ‘Sound of Metal’
    ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

    DIRECTOR

    Thomas Vinterberg, ‘Another Round’
    David Fincher, ‘Mank’
    Lee Isaac Chung, ‘Minari’
    Chloe Zhao, ‘Nomadland’
    Emerald Fennell, ‘Promising Young Woman’

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Riz Ahmed, ‘Sound of Metal’
Chadwick Boseman, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
Anthony Hopkins, ‘The Father’
Gary Oldman, ‘Mank’
Steven Yeun, ‘Minari’

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Viola Davis, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
Andra Day, ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’
Vanessa Kirby, ‘Pieces of a Woman’
Frances McDormand, ‘Nomadland’
Carey Mulligan, ‘Promising Young Woman’

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Maria Bakalova, ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’
Glenn Close, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’
Olivia Colman, ‘The Father’
Amanda Seyfried, ‘Mank’
Youn Yuh-jung, ‘Minari’

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Sacha Baron Cohen, ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
Daniel Kaluuya, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
Leslie Odom Jr., ‘One Night in Miami’
Paul Raci, ‘Sound of Metal’
Lakeith Stanfield, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

‘Onward’
‘Over the Moon’
‘A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’
‘Soul’
‘Wolfwalkers’

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

‘Borat Subsequent MovieFilm’
‘The Father’
‘Nomadland’
‘One Night in Miami’
‘The White Tiger’

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
‘Minari’
‘Promising Young Woman’
‘Sound of Metal’
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

‘Another Round’ – Denmark
‘Better Days’ – Hong Kong
‘Collective’ – Romania
‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ – Tunisia
‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ – Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

‘Collective’
‘Crip Camp’
‘The Mole Agent’
‘My Octopus Teacher’
‘Time’

PRODUCTION DESIGN

‘The Father’
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
‘Mank’
‘News of the World’
‘Tenet’

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Sean Bobbitt, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
Erik Messerschmidt, ‘Mank’
Dariusz Wolski, ‘News of the World’
Joshua James Richards, ‘Nomadland’
Phedon Papamichael , ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

COSTUME DESIGN

‘Emma’
‘Ma Rainey’s Blackbottom’
‘Mank’
‘Mulan’
‘Pinocchio’

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

‘Emma’
‘Hillbilly Elegy’
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
‘Mank’
‘Pinocchio’

FILM EDITING

‘The Father’
‘Nomadland’
‘Promising Young Woman’
‘Sound of Metal’
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

‘Greyhound’
‘Mank’
‘News of the World’
‘Soul’
‘Sound of Metal’

VISUAL EFFECTS

‘Love and Monsters’
‘The Midnight Sky’
‘Mulan’
‘The One and Only Ivan’
‘Tenet’

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

‘Feeling Through’
‘The Letter Room’
‘The Present’
‘Two Distant Strangers’
‘White Eye’

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

‘Burrow’
‘Genius Loci’
‘If Anything Happens I Love You’
‘Opera’
‘Yes-People’

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

‘Colette’
‘A Concerto Is a Conversation’
‘Do Not Split’
‘Hunger Ward’
‘A Love Song For Latasha’

ORIGINAL SONG

‘Fight For You’ from ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
‘Hear My Voice’ from ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
‘Husavik’ from ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’
‘lo Sì (Seen)’ from ‘The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)’
‘Speak Now’ from ‘One Night in Miami…’

ORIGINAL SCORE

‘Da 5 Bloods’
‘Mank’
‘Minari’
‘News of the World’
‘Soul’

Delayed by the pandemic, the Oscars ceremony will be on Sunday, April 25 on ABC.

  • Sacha Baron Cohen’s Netflix Drama ‘The Spy’ Drops Official Trailer

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s Netflix Drama ‘The Spy’ Drops Official Trailer

    Netflix

    Sacha Baron Cohen is living a lie in the official trailer for “The Spy,” his upcoming Netflix drama.

    In “The Spy,” Cohen plays the legendary Israeli Mossad agent Eli Cohen, who ran a successful undercover operation in Syria in the 1960s. He becomes close enough to ambitious military leaders and their rich friends to earn a game-changing level of trust about Syria’s biggest anti-Israel secret initiatives.

    As the trailer lays out, Cohen infiltrates Syria as Kamal Amin Sabet, all in service to his country. But he does his job so well that he finds it hard to strip off his double identity.

    The series also stars Noah Emmerich (“The Americans”) as Dan Peleg, Eli’s handler in the Mossad, who tries to ease his guilt over the sacrifices Eli makes. Hadar Ratzon Rotem (“Homeland”) plays Eli’s wife, Nadia, who knows something isn’t quite right about her husband’s government job.

    “The Spy” premieres September 6 on Netflix.

  • Sacha Baron Cohen’s Netflix Drama ‘The Spy’ Reveals Premiere Date, First Photos

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s Netflix Drama ‘The Spy’ Reveals Premiere Date, First Photos

    Netflix

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming Netflix drama “The Spy” is looking, as Borat would say, very nice.

    Netflix released the first photos from the limited series and announced its release date: September 6.

    In “The Spy,” Cohen shows off his drama chops as the legendary Mossad agent Eli Cohen, who ran a successful undercover operation in Syria in the 1960s. He becomes close enough to ambitious military leaders and their rich friends to earn a game-changing level of trust about Syria’s biggest anti-Israel secret initiatives

    The series also stars Noah Emmerich (“The Americans”) as Dan Peleg, Eli’s handler in the Mossad, who tries to ease his guilt over the sacrifices Eli makes. Hadar Ratzon Rotem (“Homeland”) plays Eli’s wife, Nadia, who knows something isn’t quite right about her husband’s government job.

    Check out more photos from “The Spy”:

    Netflix
    Netflix
  • Aaron Sorkin, Sacha Baron Cohen Teaming Up for ‘Trial of the Chicago 7’

    Aaron Sorkin, Sacha Baron Cohen Teaming Up for ‘Trial of the Chicago 7’

    Paramount

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is finally getting underway.

    The political drama, which has been in development for years, is close to getting made. Variety reports that Aaron Sorkin has signed on to direct and Sacha Baron Cohen is in talks to star.

    The movie tells the true story of the 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, related to the anti-Vietnam and countercultural protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The trial captivated the already-divided country.

    Sorkin himself wrote the script more than a decade ago and Steven Spielberg wanted to direct. Then, the writers’ strike happened and the project landed in development hell. Last year, Spielberg, who is still producing the film, saw Sorkin’s directorial debut “Molly’s Game” and recruited him to come on board.

    Baron’s name has been in the mix since Spielberg was attached. He most recently starred in his controversial Showtime series “Who Is America?” and is currently filming Netflix’s “The Spy.”

  • Disney’s ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’: Return to Underland in Exclusive Sneak Peek

    'Alice Through the Looking Glass' (2016) Return to Underland Featurette

    Ready for a trip back to Wonderland Underland?

    “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” the sequel to Disney’s 2010 blockbuster “Alice in Wonderland,” returns to “a world of limitless imagination,” as star Anne Hathaway describes it in this exclusive featurette.

    Hathaway, along with fellow cast members Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska, and director James Bobin, talk about the new, wiser Alice, who’s plunged back into the hectic, psychedelic, mind-boggling Underland.

    She’s reacquainted with old friends like the White Queen (Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), and the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), and is introduced to new characters, most notably Time, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. But her main mission is to save the Mad Hatter (Depp), who’s really going mad now, by traveling to the past. Can she solve whatever’s the matter with the Hatter?

    Watch the sneak peek for an inside look at “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” which hits theaters May 27th.

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  • Best of Late Night TV: Borat Has Sexy Time With Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler’s Truth or Truth

    He’s back! Borat showed up to “Jimmy Kimmel Live” — “My name-a Borat, I like porno” — to warn everyone against actor Sacha Baron Cohen, and premiere the latest trailer for Cohen’s movie, “The Brothers Grimsby.” Borat also had a bit of sexy time with Jimmy’s “Jimmy Kimmel,” explaining that — in his country, Kazakhstan — “Kimmel” is the name for a lady’s “vagine” and “Jimmy” means “much hair.” “For example, my wife, she has a very Jimmy Kimmel.” Haha. And did you know Donald Trump isn’t real, he’s a Sacha Baron Cohen character, “a parody of a rich American racist”? That makes sense.

    When Amy Poehler and Jimmy Fallon get together, magic happens — even in the commercial breaks. Wednesday, December 9 on “The Tonight Show,” Amy talked about “Sisters,” her new movie with Tina Fey, but during the commercial break she came up with a great new fake movie called “Chuck and Carrie Are Not Married.” The story of how that came about is great, and you should watch it before watching “Truth or Truth,” which is a version of Truth or Dare where there is only one option. Chuck is referenced again in that game, which is won by Jimmy with the answer to Amy’s query, “Where is someplace you’ve never had sex?” Answer: “My 20s.” Ba dum dum!

    “Downton Abbey” Season 6, the final season, is starting soon on PBS and three cast members were on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to illustrate why the show is so successful: British accents. (Yesterday it was saying things in French, today it’s British accents. Stephen has found a theme.) Stephen gave Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, and Allen Leech an actual scene from the show and they each read their parts in broad American accents. Michelle went full Valley girl but Allen (Branson) owned the whole thing with his, like, surfer frat dude voice. It’s killer, bruh! Here’s another great round of “What Conan’s Watching,” with new TV blurb descriptions for shows like “Empire,” “NCIS,” “Dr. Phil,” “The Good Wife,” “Castle,” and — hmm, how did this get in there? — Andy Richter’s new show. Tyler Oakley just returned from shooting “The Amazing Race” and James Corden tried to get some spoilers out of him:

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