"Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland, Potentially as Jean Grey or Mary Jane"

Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, is reportedly set to star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 film Chuck, will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in this upcoming movie, scheduled to start filming later this year with a release date of July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony declined to comment on the report.

Could Sadie Sink play Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4? Photo by Arturo Holmes/WireImage.

Speculation is rife that Sink might portray either the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, such as Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the narrative could be challenging given Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in the previous films. Deadline suggests that Sink's role will be significant, potentially marking a new direction for the franchise post-Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter's identity was erased from everyone's memory.

Tom Holland is currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and is expected to transition to Spider-Man 4 once that project wraps up.

Jean Grey in the comics. Image credit: Marvel Comics.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the introduction of X-Men characters in upcoming MCU films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige promised fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future, without specifying which characters or films. He also teased that the storyline leading up to Secret Wars would herald a new era of mutants and the X-Men in the MCU.

Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)

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At the time of Feige's announcement, the next three MCU films were slated to be Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for July 2025. More likely, mutant appearances could be integrated into Phase 6 movies, including Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man 4, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The return of characters like Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, and the potential reintroduction of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are among the key considerations.

Feige emphasized the X-Men's pivotal role in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars, indicating a narrative shift already planned for after the grand finale. He noted, "When we were preparing for Avengers: Endgame years ago, it was a question of getting to the grand finale of our narrative, and then we had to start all over again after that. This time, on the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what the story is going to be until then and afterwards. The X-Men are an important part of that future."

It appears that Phase 7 of the MCU will focus heavily on the X-Men, with Storm's appearance in What If...? Season 3 marking the character's entry into the wider MCU. Furthermore, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule, suggesting one of these might be dedicated to the X-Men.