Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, was reported to be set to star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 biographical sports drama Chuck, is slated to appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie. Filming is scheduled to commence later this year, with the film set for release on July 31, 2026.
When contacted by Deadline, both Marvel and Sony declined to comment on the news. However, the publication speculated that Sink might portray the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe.
Following the initial report, IGN delved into the potential roles Sadie Sink could take on in Spider-Man 4 and beyond within the MCU. The speculation has sparked interest among fans, leading to a poll asking:
In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Sadie Sink remained non-committal about the Jean Grey and X-Men rumors. She responded to the speculation by saying, "This is news to me," and when asked if she had spoken to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative about Jean Grey, she simply stated, "No. I have nothing to say about this." However, Sink did acknowledge the excitement surrounding the rumors, calling them "really cool" and "awesome." She also expressed her familiarity with the Jean Grey character, calling it "a great character," and showed enthusiasm for the prospect of dedicating time to a role in the MCU, saying, "I think that’s super exciting."
The interview concluded with Sink keeping her options open, and Horowitz hinted at revisiting the topic once Sink's involvement in the MCU is confirmed.
Late last year, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, teased the inclusion of X-Men characters in the "next few" MCU movies. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige hinted that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in upcoming films, though he did not specify which characters or movies.
Feige 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."
Considering the next few movies, if "few" implies three, they would include Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025. More likely, mutant appearances could be expected 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 movie, and the potential return of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are among the key questions.
Feige emphasized the importance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. 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 focused on the X-Men. In the interim, Storm made her first appearance in the broader 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 is increasingly likely that one of these films will be an X-Men movie.
