Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland

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 be part of the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, slated to start filming later this year and scheduled for release on 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 from Deadline suggests that Sink might portray the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character, possibly Mary Jane Watson. However, introducing Mary Jane could complicate Peter Parker's existing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous Spider-Man films. Given the significant role Sink is expected to play, Spider-Man 4 might serve as a reset 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, and plans are in place for him to transition directly into Spider-Man 4 upon completion, as per Deadline's report.

Jean Grey in the comics. Image credit: Marvel Comics.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming films. At the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would encounter "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 MCU's future, stating, "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 "few" refers to three movies, the next likely candidates for X-Men introductions could be Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for July 2025. More probable, however, are appearances in Phase 6 films, including Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. There's also the question of whether Deadpool and Wolverine will return to the MCU, given their recent success, and if Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.

Feige has emphasized the significance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. Reflecting on the narrative planning after Avengers: Endgame, he noted, "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, but in the immediate future, Storm's appearance in What If...? Season 3 marks the character's first entry into the wider MCU.

In October, Marvel Studios announced three untitled movie projects slated for 2028: February 18, May 5, and November 10. There's growing speculation that one of these films might be dedicated to the X-Men.