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 made her film debut in 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.

When approached for comment, Marvel and Sony remained silent, but Deadline speculated that Sink could be portraying the X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe. Following this, IGN provided an in-depth analysis of the various Marvel characters Sadie Sink might play in *Spider-Man 4* and other future MCU projects.

In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Sadie Sink responded to the Jean Grey and X-Men speculation with intrigue but maintained a coy stance. She mentioned, "This is news to me," when the rumor was brought up. When asked about discussions with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representatives regarding Jean Grey, Sink simply stated, "No," and added, "I have nothing to say about this." However, she expressed enthusiasm about the rumors, calling them "really cool" and "awesome." She acknowledged her familiarity with the Jean Grey character, describing it as "a great character," and expressed excitement at the prospect of committing to a role in the MCU for years, saying, "I think that’s super exciting."

The conversation ended with Sink keeping her options open, and Horowitz hinted at revisiting the topic in the future once her role in the MCU might be confirmed.

Late last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the "next few" MCU movies. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in upcoming films but did not specify which characters or movies.

Feige further elaborated on the inclusion of the X-Men in 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."

If "few" is interpreted as three, the next MCU movies lined up are *Captain America: Brave New World*, *Thunderbolts*, and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* set for July 2025. However, it seems more probable that mutants will feature prominently in Phase 6 films, including *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Spider-Man 4* in 2026, and *Avengers: Secret Wars* in 2027. There is also speculation about the return of Deadpool and Wolverine to the MCU following their successful standalone movie, and whether Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.

Feige has also emphasized that the X-Men will play a significant role in the future of the MCU following *Secret Wars*. He explained, "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 shorter term, Storm made her debut in the MCU in *What If...? Season 3*. Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule, scheduled for February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028, with one of these likely being an X-Men film.