Sacha Baron Cohen’s Unexpected Call to Matthew McConaughey and What It Might Mean for the MCU

Sacha Baron Cohen is absolutely shredded and Marvel fans are in a frenzy. The 53-year-old actor known for comedy movies like Borat and Ali G Indahouse was recently spotted looking absolutely shredded, which sparked new rumors about his supposed role as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

How he got to look this way? Matthew McConaughey's personal trainer.

“I called Matthew and asked for help. After asking who I was and how I’d gotten his number, he finally gave me Alfonso’s contact,” Sacha joked with Men's Fitness UK. Alfonso, aka The Angry Trainer has a reputation for transforming physiques on impossible deadlines. His no-nonsense, gimmick-free approach to training and nutrition has Baron Cohen looking significantly more muscular than fans are used to.

Donning an open shirt and sporting a toned, gym-honed frame on the cover of the magazine, the comedian's transformation marks a major physical pivot for the star, who Marvel fans have long been speculating will play Mephisto in an upcoming project. First teased by Deadline in 2022, the sudden bulk-up combined with Marvel's increasing tendency to cast against type (see: Paul Rudd as Ant-Man), makes the theory plausible, especially considering Marvel’s track record of big-name reveals.

Mephisto's appearance has been teased throughout the MCU, most recently in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, the latter of which some fans believe could feature Cohen’s official debut.

Baron Cohen hasn’t commented publicly on the transformation or the role. But if the internet buzz is any indication, his villain era might just be beginning.