Sadie Sink Denies Jean Grey Rumors, Calls Them 'Awesome'

Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in the hit series Stranger Things, was reported to be set to star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the film industry with the 2016 biographical sports drama Chuck, is slated to appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie. Filming is scheduled to start later this year, with the film set for release on July 31, 2026.

Despite reaching out to Marvel and Sony for comments, Deadline received no official response. 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 the initial reports, IGN delved into a detailed analysis of the potential Marvel characters Sadie Sink could embody in Spider-Man 4 and beyond within the MCU.

In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Sadie Sink remained elusive about the Jean Grey X-Men speculation. When asked about the rumors, she responded, "This is news to me." She confirmed she had not spoken to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative about playing Jean Grey, stating, "No. I have nothing to say about this." However, she acknowledged the excitement around the rumors, saying, "The rumors are really cool though. It’s an awesome rumor!" Sink also expressed her admiration for the Jean Grey character, noting, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" When considering the prospect of dedicating significant time to a role in the MCU, she remarked, "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 officially confirmed.

Late last year, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige teased the introduction 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."

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Assuming "few" means three, the next MCU movies at the time of Feige's statement were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025. However, it seems more likely that mutant characters will appear throughout Phase 6, which includes 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, and if Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.

Feige has also emphasized the importance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars, saying, "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.

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 seems increasingly likely that one of these movies will be dedicated to the X-Men.