Ironheart Trailer Teases Magic-Infused Iron Man Armor, Mephisto Speculation

Marvel has released a new trailer for the upcoming Disney+ series Ironheart, unveiling a magical Iron Man-style suit for its protagonist, Riri Williams.

The teaser also introduces some of Williams' allies, such as her late friend Natalie, portrayed by This Is Us actor Lyric Ross, whom the brilliant inventor revives as an AI hologram. Joining her is a character played by Alden Ehrenreich, known for his role in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Perhaps the most exciting revelation in the trailer is Williams creating an upgraded Iron Man suit that merges her technical expertise with the kind of sorcery wielded by magic-users like Wanda Maximoff and Doctor Strange. This development has revived longstanding fan theories that Ironheart will mark the debut of the MCU’s version of Mephisto.

If it seems like Ironheart has taken quite some time to arrive, you're not wrong. Initially unveiled by Marvel in 2020 as a spin-off from the then-upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the series was filmed in 2022 and has been awaiting its release since then.

Although not officially confirmed as part of Ironheart’s cast, multiple reports from Deadline in late 2022 suggested that Sacha Baron Cohen—star of Borat—had filmed scenes for a secret role, suspected to be the fan-favorite comic book antagonist Mephisto.

So far, Mephisto has remained unseen, but the show’s unique blend of advanced tech and mystical forces strongly alludes to something otherworldly brewing beneath its MIT campus setting. Earlier previews of Ironheart have centered on Williams’ dynamic with Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood—a recognizable Marvel comics figure portrayed by Hamilton's Anthony Ramos—who seems positioned to guide her into the world of magic.

Marvel's Ironheart: The Cast of the Disney+ MCU Series

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Fans of the comics recognize The Hood as a villainous mastermind who acquires supernatural abilities through an enchanted hood. Many speculate that Robbins and Williams will start as allies, but as the story unfolds, Robbins may turn into Williams’ foe—possibly tempted by a more formidable magical force.

So, who could this villain be? The signs increasingly point to Mephisto, a character whose MCU debut has been eagerly anticipated—going back to the popular Disney+ series WandaVision. In the original comics, The Hood gains similar abilities from Dormammu—a demonic antagonist who appeared in the first Doctor Strange film. However, the prevailing theory is that Baron Cohen wasn't cast as Dormammu, and instead, this devilish antagonist will be replaced by an equally malevolent entity.

Additionally, Mephisto is known for his minimalistic, revealing attire—a look that could suit the eccentric style of the Borat star.

Ironheart is set to premiere with its first three episodes launching on Disney+ in just a few weeks, on June 24, 2025.