"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 set to join Tom Holland in the highly anticipated Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 film Chuck, will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, which is slated to start filming later this year and has a release date set for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained silent on the matter when approached by Deadline.

Deadline speculates 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 narrative could complicate Peter Parker's current relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in the previous films. Given the significant role Sink is expected to play, Spider-Man 4 could serve as a partial reset following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter had to reintroduce himself to MJ after Doctor Strange erased his identity from everyone's memory.

Tom Holland, who is currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is scheduled to begin shooting Spider-Man 4 once he wraps up that project, according to Deadline.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the inclusion 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, though he did not specify which characters or 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)

11 ImagesAt the time of Feige's comments, the next three MCU films were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for release in July 2025. However, more mutant appearances are expected in Phase 6, which includes 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 potential roles for actors like Channing Tatum as Gambit, remain open questions.

Feige has emphasized the importance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. Reflecting on the narrative arcs leading up to and following Avengers: Endgame, he remarked, "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 making her debut in the wider MCU in What If...? Season 3. Furthermore, Marvel Studios has added three untitled projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. It seems increasingly probable that one of these will be dedicated to the X-Men.