Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland, Possibly 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 film industry with the 2016 biographical sports drama Chuck, will join the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie. Filming is slated to begin later this year, with a release date set for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have declined to comment on these reports.

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

Speculation abounds that Sink might portray the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character, possibly Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the narrative could complicate Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous Spider-Man films. Deadline suggests Sink's role will be significant, potentially signaling a reset following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter reintroduced himself to MJ after Doctor Strange erased his identity from everyone's memory.

Tom Holland, currently involved in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is expected to transition to Spider-Man 4 upon completion of that project.

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 the "next few" MCU movies. During the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige teased fans with the promise of familiar X-Men characters appearing soon, though he remained coy about specifics. He further elaborated on the integration of the X-Men into the MCU, stating, "I think you will see that continues in our next few movies with some X-Men players that you might recognize. Right after that, the whole story of Secret Wars really leads us into a new age of mutants and of the X-Men. Again, [it's] one of those dreams come true. We finally have the X-Men back."

Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)

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At the time, the next few MCU movies, if interpreted as three, included Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025. However, more likely scenarios involve mutant appearances in Phase 6 movies such as Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The return of characters like Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, and the potential reprise of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are also topics of interest.

Feige has emphasized the importance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. 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 be heavily influenced by the X-Men, with Storm already making an appearance in What If...? Season 3. Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028, with speculation that one of these could be an X-Men film.