Marvel Cinematic Universe theory based on the hero's history in the comics, as well as recent reports about the next MCU Spider-Man movie, show how Mephisto could be involved. While Tom Holland has yet to be announced for Avengers: Doomsday's cast, the actor is confirmed to be returning as Spider-Man for at least one appearance in 2026. After a long time with few updates, Sony announced that the hero's next solo film is Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

That title is charged with comic book history that connects Peter Parker to Mephisto, a demon lord with immense power. The character was rumored to make his MCU debut in WandaVision, with many theories about how Mephisto could play a role in the show, though none were accurate. Spider-Man's MCU journey.

Mephisto Is Rumored To Appear In The Next Spider-Man Movie

The Villain Could Make His MCU Movie Debut

While Sony has revealed the title of the next entry in the MCU's Spider-Man franchise, the main villain of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has yet to be announced. That leaves the door open for someone like Mephisto to swoop in, and it seems like that might just be what is happening. In December 2024, The InSneider shared a shocking Spider-Man movie report that revealed certain characters, such as Charlie Cox's Daredevil, could appear in the film. It also detailed the nature of Zendaya's return as MJ, which would be in a reduced role, fitting Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending.

However, the most shocking part of the report was that Mephisto was rumored to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Beyond the character's possible inclusion, the report did not explain what role Mephisto could play in the MCU's next Spider-Man movie. However, based on where Tom Holland's Peter Parker was left off at the end of No Way Home, as well as the comic book history between the two characters, if Mephisto is truly in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, then the answer to what role he could play in the story might not be hard to figure out.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Title Connects To Mephisto In A Key Way

Marvel Comics Has Had A Few Controversial Spider-Man Stories

Long before the hero's current controversial comic book run in The Amazing Spider-Man title, Peter Parker had other divisive stories in the comics. Perhaps the biggest of them, "One More Day," tied him directly to Mephisto. The dark story revolved around Aunt May being shot by a bullet that had Spider-Man as its target. His love for Aunt May and the guilt over how she was only hurt due to him led Spider-Man to try desperate measures to ensure that his dying aunt could pull through. That path eventually led him to a meeting with Mephisto.

A deal with the devil seems to be Peter Parker's only hope of saving his aunt, and the price asked for Aunt May not to die is a steep one. Mephisto manages to get Peter to sign away his marriage to Mary Jane Watson, which MJ also agrees to. From that moment forward, their marriage was erased, leading to the story that names the next MCU Spider-Man movie. "Brand New Day" was the comic book arc that took place in the aftermath of Peter's deal with Mephisto, where Marvel essentially reset Spider-Man's life.

When talking about Spider-Man: Brand New Day at this year's CinemaCon, where ScreenRant was in attendance, Tom Holland claimed it would be a "fresh start" for the MCU's Peter Parker. That means the film is at least copying the core idea of the comic book story that Marvel chose for its name. The comics' "Brand New Day" added a new roster of ing characters and villains to Peter's life while also mixing in classic players like Harry Osborn and J. Jonah Jameson in different ways. The MCU's Spider-Man franchise is in order for a similar shakeup after No Way Home.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Theory: Tom Holland’s Peter Parker Makes A Deal With Mephisto

The MCU Version Of The Deal Would Have A Very Different Goal

With Mephisto rumored for Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the movie's title connecting to the villain's comic book history with Spider-Man, there is a good chance that he could appear to bring a new version of the infamous deal to life. Since Zendaya's MJ is not married to Holland's Peter, nor does she even him after Doctor Strange's spell to save Earth-616, there could be a unique spin to the MCU's version of the deal. Peter's goal would be for Mephisto to make his friends and loved ones who he is.

Mephisto could disguise himself, not revealing his true nature to Peter, who would only know he could ask for a favor in the future without knowing what he got into.

Since there is no marriage for Mephisto to take away, what he gets out of the deal would have to be altered. There are a few different ways the deal could go. One of them is that Mephisto could disguise himself, not revealing his true nature to Peter, who would only know he could ask for a favor in the future without knowing what he got into. Another is that, instead of asking for Peter and MJ's marriage, Mephisto anticipates Holland and Zendaya's characters getting together and asks for the couple's future daughter, the comics' Mayday, which would be heartbreaking.

Mephisto’s MCU Debut Will Reportedly Happen Before Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Villain Could The Franchise As Early As 2025

Mephisto's possible Spider-Man: Brand New Day role would not be the first time he appears in the MCU. While WandaVision's Mephisto theories did not pan out, the character is rumored to make his franchise debut in another Disney+ Marvel series. That would be Ironheart, which is set to release its first episode on June 24, 2025. For months, rumors that Sacha Baron Cohen had been spotted on the Ironheart set and that he would be playing Mephisto in the series floated around online. Then, Deadline reported in October 2022 that there was some truth behind the rumors.

The report did not reveal what Mephisto could be doing in Ironheart, but since the series is about technology versus magic, Mephisto could connect to the latter, as he has had dealings with The Hood, Ironheart's villain, in the comics. That said, the report claimed that Cohen's character would return in other MCU projects, which makes it possible for the Spider-Man movie theory to prove itself accurate. Mephisto and his power could be established in Ironheart before the character is used as the MCU player that Sony requires to appear in every Holland Spider-Man film for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

All Announced MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  May 2, 2025

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  July 25, 2025

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  July 31, 2026

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  December 17, 2027

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