Sacha Baron Cohen has undergone a dramatic physical transformation to play Marvel’s new villain, Mephisto, and the results are turning heads.
The 53-year-old actor showed off his chiseled abs in the latest issue of Men’s Fitness UK, and later reposted the photos to his Instagram, sharing insights into how he achieved his new look.
He wrote humorously:
“Some celebrities use Ozempic, others have personal chefs, and some train with personal trainers… I did all three! This is not AI-generated. I’m just self-centered enough to do this. Introducing my new character: A middle-aged man who swapped beer for protein shakes.”
Baron Cohen also thanked his personal trainer, saying:
“Thanks to him for doing the unthinkable – putting up with me for 25 minutes a day.”
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“Only 3 Weeks to Transform”
The actor revealed he had just three weeks to get superhero-level ripped in order to portray Mephisto – a demonic character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Speaking to Men’s Fitness UK, he shared that he reached out to Matthew McConaughey for the number of celebrity trainer Alfonso Moretti, known for achieving dramatic body transformations under extreme time pressure.
During their first FaceTime call, Moretti asked Baron Cohen to strip down to his underwear so he could assess his starting point. Due to the tight schedule and the trainer’s intense methods, Cohen had to commit fully, performing 100 push-ups a day.
Targeted, Short Workouts and Clean Eating
Surprisingly, his transformation did not rely on grueling training marathons or extreme dieting. Instead, the focus was on short, targeted workouts and a clean diet: high in fiber and protein, and low in sugar.
“The 25-minute workouts were manageable. Even during filming, we’d fit them in. I used to think you needed hour-long sessions, but short workouts made it much easier to stay consistent – even on a hectic set.”
By the second week, costume designers had to spend $5,000 altering his suits, as his body had changed so dramatically. He was leaner, stronger, and in better shape than ever before.
His trainer proudly shared the Men’s Fitness photos on Instagram, writing that he “couldn’t be prouder” of the actor’s dedication and transformation.
Official Confirmation from Marvel
In a recent press conference, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Sacha Baron Cohen will indeed play Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
