Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, was reported to be joining the cast of Spider-Man 4 alongside Tom Holland. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 film Chuck, will feature in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, set to start filming later this year with a scheduled release on July 31, 2026.
Both Marvel and Sony remained tight-lipped when approached by Deadline for comments. However, the publication speculated that Sink might portray either the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe.
Following this news, IGN delved into the potential roles Sadie Sink could take on in Spider-Man 4 and future MCU projects.
AnswerSee ResultsIn a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Sink remained elusive about the Jean Grey speculation but acknowledged the rumor as "awesome.""This is news to me," Sink remarked when asked about the Jean Grey / X-Men rumor.
When questioned about any discussions with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or other Marvel representatives regarding Jean Grey, Sink responded, "No. I have nothing to say about this."
However, she added, "The rumors are really cool though. It’s an awesome rumor!" Sink also expressed her familiarity with the Jean Grey character, stating, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!"
On the possibility of dedicating significant time and energy to a role in the MCU, Sink said, "I think that’s super exciting."
The conversation concluded with Sink keeping her options open, and Horowitz suggested revisiting the topic once Sink's involvement in the MCU is officially confirmed.
Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the next few MCU movies, though he did not specify which characters or films.
Regarding the integration of the X-Men into the MCU, Feige elaborated, "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."
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3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee resultsAssuming "few" refers to three movies, the next MCU films at the time of Feige's statement were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set for July 2025.
However, it seems more probable that mutant characters will appear in Phase 6 films, including Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. A key question is whether Deadpool and Wolverine will return to the MCU following their successful standalone film this summer, and if Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.
Feige has also emphasized that the X-Men will play a crucial role in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. "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," Feige explained. "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 debut in the MCU in What If...? Season 3.
In October, Marvel Studios 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.
