Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland

Sadie Sink, best known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, is reportedly joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who made her film debut in the 2016 biographical sports drama Chuck, will be part of the upcoming MCU film, set to begin filming later this year with a release date scheduled for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained silent on the matter when approached by Deadline.

Speculation abounds about the character Sink will portray, with Deadline suggesting she might take on the role of X-Men's Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, possibly Mary Jane Watson. Integrating Mary Jane into the narrative could pose challenges given Peter Parker's established relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. However, Deadline indicates that Sink's role will be significant, hinting at a potential storyline reset following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter's identity was erased from public memory.

Tom Holland is currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and is expected to transition to Spider-Man 4 once that project concludes.

Late last year, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU, stating at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore that fans could expect to see familiar X-Men faces in the near future. Feige emphasized the significance of the X-Men in the MCU's upcoming narrative, particularly in the context of Avengers: Secret Wars, which he described as leading into "a new age of mutants and of the X-Men."

Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)

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Feige's comments suggest that the next few MCU films, potentially including Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, might introduce these characters. However, more likely candidates for mutant appearances are the Phase 6 films, such as Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man 4, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2026 and 2027. The return of Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, remains a possibility, as does Channing Tatum reprising his role as Gambit.

Feige has also confirmed that the X-Men will play a crucial role in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. He noted, "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."

This suggests that Phase 7 of the MCU will be heavily focused on the X-Men. In the interim, Storm has already made her MCU debut 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 films could be dedicated to the X-Men.