Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, is reportedly joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe to star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the film industry with the 2016 sports drama Chuck, will be part of the upcoming MCU movie set to start filming later this year and scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony remained silent on the matter when approached by Deadline for comment.
Speculation suggests that Sink might portray either the X-Men character Jean Grey or another iconic redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, potentially Mary Jane Watson. This casting could stir the dynamics of Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. Given the narrative reset after Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter reintroduces himself to MJ following Doctor Strange's memory-erasing spell, Sink's role is anticipated to be significant.
Tom Holland, who plays Peter Parker, is currently involved in filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. According to Deadline, he is set to transition directly to Spider-Man 4 upon completion.
Late last year, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming projects. At the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would encounter familiar X-Men characters in the "next few" MCU movies, though he refrained from specifying which characters or films.
Feige further elaborated on the MCU's plans for 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."
Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)
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If we interpret "few" to mean three movies, the upcoming titles at the time of Feige's statement were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set for July 2025. However, it seems more plausible that additional mutant characters will emerge during 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 film, remains a possibility, along with potential appearances by Channing Tatum as Gambit.
Feige has emphasized the significance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. 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, but in the immediate future, Storm made her first appearance in the wider MCU in What If...? Season 3. Marvel Studios has also added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028, with speculation that one of these could be an X-Men film.
