Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland, May Play Jean Grey or Mary Jane

Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, is set to join Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the film Chuck in 2016, will star in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, which is slated to start filming later this year and has a release date of July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony remained silent when approached for comments by Deadline.

Speculation from Deadline suggests 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 storyline could complicate Peter Parker's current relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. Given the significant events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter's identity was erased from everyone's memory, Sink's role is expected to be pivotal, possibly contributing to a narrative reset.

Tom Holland, who is currently involved in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is expected to begin shooting Spider-Man 4 after completing that project, as per Deadline.

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 soon see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the next few MCU movies, though he did not specify which characters or films. 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 of Feige's comments, the next few MCU movies, assuming "few" means three, were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for July 2025. However, it seems more likely that mutant characters will appear in Phase 6 films, including 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 also points 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 focused on the X-Men. In the short term, Storm made her first appearance in the wider MCU 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 one of these likely to be an X-Men film.