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

Earlier this month, Sadie Sink—who portrays Max Mayfield in *Stranger Things*—was reported to be joining Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who made her film debut in the 2016 biographical sports drama *Chuck*, is set to appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment. Production on the film is expected to begin later this year, with an official release date of July 31, 2026.

While neither Marvel nor Sony officially confirmed the casting details, Deadline speculated that Sink might portray Jean Grey, a prominent X-Men character, or “another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character.” Following this report, IGN explored potential roles Sadie Sink could embody not only in *Spider-Man 4*, but across future MCU projects as well.

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In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Sadie Sink remained noncommittal about the speculation surrounding her potential portrayal of Jean Grey. However, she did express enthusiasm for the rumor itself.

“This is news to me,” Sink responded when asked directly about the Jean Grey / X-Men connection. When questioned whether she had spoken with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige or any other Marvel representatives regarding the role, she replied, “No, I have nothing to say about this.”

Despite maintaining secrecy, Sink acknowledged the appeal of the rumors. “The rumors are really cool though. It’s an awesome rumor!” she said. She also admitted familiarity with the Jean Grey character, stating, “It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!”

When asked about the possibility of dedicating years to portraying an MCU character, Sink expressed excitement. “I think that’s super exciting,” she said before politely closing the conversation, clearly choosing to keep further details under wraps.

Horowitz noted that the topic could be revisited in a future interview if and when Marvel officially confirms Sink’s involvement in the franchise.

Last year, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige hinted at the introduction of X-Men characters in the “next few” MCU films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige stated that audiences would encounter “some X-Men players that you might recognize” in upcoming releases, although he stopped short of naming specific characters or titles.

On expanding the mutant narrative, Feige added: “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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At the time of Feige's remarks, the next three MCU theatrical releases were projected to be *Captain America: Brave New World*, *Thunderbolts\**, and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* (set for July 2025). However, it’s more plausible that mutant introductions will unfold gradually throughout Phase 6, which includes *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Spider-Man 4* in 2026, followed by *Avengers: Secret Wars* in 2027.

One key question remains: Will Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their roles as Deadpool and Wolverine following the success of their summer 2024 film? Could Channing Tatum return as Gambit? These possibilities remain tantalizingly open.

Feige has reiterated that the X-Men will play a pivotal role in the MCU moving forward from *Secret Wars*. “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,” Feige explained. “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 largely defined by the integration of the X-Men into the MCU. In the interim, Storm made her first live-action MCU appearance in What If...? Season 3, signaling early mutant representation in the cinematic universe.

In October, Marvel Studios announced three untitled films slated for 2028: February 18, May 5, and November 10. Industry speculation increasingly suggests that one of these titles may be an X-Men movie, marking a major milestone in the post-*Secret Wars* era of the MCU.