Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in the hit series 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. Filming is slated to begin later this year, with the film scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.

When approached for comment, both Marvel and Sony remained silent, but Deadline speculated that Sink might portray either the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe. Following this, IGN delved into the potential roles Sadie Sink could take on 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 but acknowledged the rumor as "awesome." When asked about the rumor, Sink responded, "This is news to me." She confirmed she had not spoken to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative about the role of Jean Grey, stating, "No. I have nothing to say about this." However, she expressed enthusiasm about the rumors, saying, "The rumors are really cool though. It’s an awesome rumor!" Sink also praised the Jean Grey character, noting, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" When considering the potential commitment to a long-term role in the MCU, Sink 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.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the next few MCU movies, though he did not specify which characters or films. He further elaborated on the inclusion of the X-Men, 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."

The next few MCU movies, if we consider "few" to mean three, include 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. The return of Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone movie, and the potential return of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are among the key questions.

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 debut in the wider MCU in What If...? Season 3. Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028, with one of these likely to be an X-Men film.