Sacha Baron Cohen says Marvel worried about casting a Jewish actor as the devil Mephisto because it could be perceived as antisemitic.
βIt was a wonderful meeting when I was offered it. It was primarily, I think, an almost entirely Black producing and directing team. And they said, βWe want to offer you Mephisto, but we are aware of the negative association of Jews historically with the devil, and we want to make sure that youβre not insulted by us offering this.β It was such an amazingly considerate, empathetic thing to say. And I was like, βYeah, Iβm good.β
I think for the Jews out there, sometimes we donβt feel seen. We donβt feel like people can empathize with us, that we are suffering too. And so to have this entirely Black producing and directing team be so empathetic was a moment of being seen. It was an amazing experience.β
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