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 join Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, filming for this highly anticipated MCU movie is scheduled to begin later this year, with a release planned for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained silent on the matter when approached by Deadline.

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

Speculation is rife that Sink might portray the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, such as Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the narrative poses challenges, given Peter Parker's existing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. Deadline suggests that Sink's role will be significant, hinting at a potential reset for the series following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter reintroduces himself to MJ after Doctor Strange erases his identity from everyone's memory.

Tom Holland is currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, with plans to transition to Spider-Man 4 once that project wraps up, according to Deadline.

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. At the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige teased that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future but did not specify which characters or which movies. 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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If we interpret "few" to mean three, the next few movies on Marvel's slate include Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set for July 2025. However, it's more likely that mutant characters will appear throughout Phase 6, which includes Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The return of Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, and the potential return of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are key questions for the future of the MCU.

Feige has confirmed that the X-Men will play a pivotal role in the MCU's future beyond Secret Wars. Reflecting on the preparation for Avengers: Endgame, Feige 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 will be heavily influenced by the X-Men. In the short term, Storm made her debut in What If...? Season 3, marking her first appearance in the broader MCU.

Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. It's increasingly likely that one of these films will be dedicated to the X-Men.