Sacha Baron Cohen appears to be putting one of his most famous characters, Borat, to bed while preparing for a future in Marvel. While speaking with ScreenRant, the actor was asked which character fans will see return first: Borat or his Marvel character, Mephisto. Cohen gave a very direct answer, noting that Borat may not have a place in the world anymore: “I think Mephisto. I don’t know if Borat will ever return.”
Cohen made a name for himself by playing a bunch of surreal, shocking characters in real-life settings. Ali-G, for instance, was perceived as a real interviewer and was allowed to get into the room with some of the most famous people on the planet, such as Donald Trump, to ask absurd questions. Borat was another level of famous, though. The character’s first film was a global phenomenon that swept the box office and was nominated for major awards, including an Oscar.
Given the character became a global icon, it meant that Borat was no longer a feasible character, as many would be acutely aware that he wasn’t a real person and it was all an act. Cohen put the character on ice for roughly 15 years but brought him back for an acclaimed sequel, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, set during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. However, the sequel may be the last time we see Borat.
It’s possible Borat is so recognizable now, and also creates consistently controversial situations, that Cohen realizes it’s no longer feasible to wear the mustache and suit any longer. In the 2020 sequel, Cohen was rushed by a crowd of angry protestors while performing on stage. He also created headlines after staging an incident that saw Rudy Giuliani attempting to sleep with Borat’s daughter. Maybe one day Borat will return as a surprise, but it seems more likely that Cohen would embrace a different, less familiar character first.
Cohen has also been pursuing roles outside of shock comedy, such as one with Marvel. He appeared in the Disney+ series, Ironheart, last year as Mephisto, a devil-like character who often tempts others with lucrative offers at a high cost. Famously, Mephisto allowed Peter Parker the opportunity to bring Aunt May back from the dead at the cost of radically changing Peter’s entire life.
It’s unclear where Mephisto may appear next. Perhaps he will appear in a future Spider-Man film, especially since Brand New Day appears to be loosely adapting the aforementioned storyline. He could pop up in more magical stories like the next Doctor Strange movie as well. Either way, it doesn’t seem like Mephisto’s time is up quite yet.
Photo by Jason Merritt/FilmMagic.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
