The Ironheart season finale has left Marvel fans buzzing, primarily due to the surprising debut of Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Series creator Chinaka Hodge has opened up about the decision to include this major Marvel villain and the implications it has for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

For a long time, fans have speculated about when and how Mephisto would be introduced into the MCU. Hints were dropped in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, but the character never actually appeared. Therefore, it came as a shock when the interdimensional demon, initially thought to be Dormammu, revealed his true identity as Mephisto in the Ironheart finale. He offered Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, a deal to resurrect her deceased best friend, Natalie. The episode concludes with a cliffhanger, implying Riri accepted the deal, as Natalie returns to life, and Riri's arms display the same black veins that previously corrupted Parker Robbins, also known as The Hood.

Hodge has stated that including Mephisto in Ironheart was not solely her decision, but a collaborative effort with Marvel Studios. She told Entertainment Weekly that she was "empowered by Marvel to make that decision". Hodge also admitted to TVLine that she didn't fully grasp the magnitude of introducing Mephisto into the MCU until recently. She said, "I thought I understood the magnitude of it. It wasn't until these last few days where I really understood what it actually means as a run-on effect in the MCU".

The decision to tie Mephisto to the Hood's origin story, instead of Dormammu as in the comics, was also collaborative. Hodge expressed gratitude to the person who guided them in that direction. Ironheart's executive producer, Ryan Coogler, told Variety that he loved that Mephisto was being introduced through "this stressed-out, young Black genius".

Hodge praised Sacha Baron Cohen, calling it "incredible" to work with the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning actor. She hopes to see him make many more appearances in the MCU.

Dominique Thorne was excited about Riri's turn to the dark side in the finale. She told Entertainment Weekly, "I think it's so yummy that Riri doesn't have to walk the traditional hero path...She has already crossed some lines and figured she'll handle the consequences on the other side. So what exactly is the scope?". Thorne pointed to Riri’s lack of emotional intelligence as a key reason for her decision to make a deal with the devil.

The Ironheart finale leaves several questions unanswered. It is unknown what the future holds for Riri Williams and Mephisto, and how this cliffhanger will be resolved. Hodge has teased that the audience's reception of Ironheart will influence what happens next. She stated, "Audiences will help make that decision, of what happens next... Tune in and show Disney and the MCU that we have a strong fan base for Ironheart". Hodge hopes to continue exploring these stories in future seasons of Ironheart. However, a second season has not yet been announced.