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

Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, known 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 film industry with the 2016 biographical sports drama Chuck, is set to appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, which is slated to start filming later this year and has a scheduled release date of July 31, 2026.

While Marvel and Sony remained tight-lipped when approached by Deadline, the publication speculated that Sink could portray the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe. Following this, IGN explored various Marvel characters that Sadie Sink might 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 speculation, humorously noting that it was "awesome" but news to her. When pressed on whether she had discussed the role with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative, Sink simply replied, "No," and added, "I have nothing to say about this." However, she did express enthusiasm about the character, saying, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" She also mentioned the excitement of potentially committing to a significant role in the MCU for years, stating, "I think that’s super exciting."

The interview concluded with Sink keeping her options open, and Horowitz suggested revisiting the topic once Sink's involvement in the MCU is officially confirmed.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the inclusion of X-Men characters in the "next few" MCU films during the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore. He mentioned that fans would encounter "some X-Men players that you might recognize" but did not specify which characters or films. Feige emphasized the significance of the X-Men in the MCU's future, particularly following the storyline leading to Secret Wars. He stated, "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."

Given the upcoming MCU movie slate, which includes Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025, it seems likely that more mutants will feature prominently in Phase 6 movies such as Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man 4, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The return of Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, and the potential reprisal of Channing Tatum as Gambit, adds further intrigue to the MCU's mutant integration.

Feige has confirmed that the X-Men will play a crucial role in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. Reflecting on the narrative journey, 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 short term, Storm made her debut in the wider MCU in What If...? Season 3. Moreover, Marvel Studios has scheduled three untitled movie projects for 2028, with release dates on February 18, May 5, and November 10. It is increasingly probable that one of these films will be dedicated to the X-Men.