Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in the hit series Stranger Things, is set to join Tom Holland in the eagerly anticipated Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the film industry with the 2026 biographical sports drama Chuck, will feature in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie. Filming is slated to commence later this year, with a release scheduled for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony remained tight-lipped when approached for comments by Deadline.
Could Sadie Sink play Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4? Photo by Arturo Holmes/WireImage,Deadline suggests that Sadie Sink might portray either the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, potentially Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the storyline poses challenges given Peter Parker's current relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in earlier films. Deadline is confident that Sink's role in Spider-Man 4 will be significant, hinting at a possible narrative reset following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter Parker had to reintroduce himself to MJ after Doctor Strange's memory-altering spell.
Tom Holland, currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, is expected to transition directly into shooting Spider-Man 4 upon completion, according to Deadline.
Jean Grey in the comics. Image credit: Marvel Comics.Last year, Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige hinted at the inclusion of X-Men characters in upcoming MCU films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would encounter "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future, though he refrained from specifying which characters or films. He further emphasized 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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Considering Feige's comments, the "next few" movies might include Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps slated for July 2025. However, it's more plausible that mutant characters will appear prominently throughout Phase 6, including in Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The success of Deadpool and Wolverine this summer raises questions about their potential return to the MCU, and whether Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.
Feige has emphasized the significant role the X-Men will play in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. He stated, “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, though in the immediate future, Storm made her MCU debut 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 dedicated to the X-Men.
