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 2016 film 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, 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 explored various Marvel characters that Sadie Sink could potentially play 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." She stated, "This is news to me," in response to the Jean Grey / X-Men rumor. When asked if she had discussed the role with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative, Sink replied, "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 shared her familiarity with the Jean Grey character, noting, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" When considering the potential long-term commitment to an MCU role, she added, "I think that’s super exciting."

The interview concluded with Sink keeping her options open, and Horowitz suggested 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 "next few" MCU films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would encounter "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in upcoming movies, though he did not specify which characters or films.

Feige 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."

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Assuming "few" refers to three movies, the next few MCU films at the time of Feige's statement were Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for release in July 2025. However, it seems more probable that mutant characters will appear in Phase 6 movies, including Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. A key question remains whether Deadpool and Wolverine will return to the MCU following their successful standalone film, and if Channing Tatum might reprise his role as Gambit.

Feige has also emphasized that the X-Men will play a significant role in the MCU's future post-Secret Wars. He reflected on the narrative journey leading to Avengers: Endgame and the subsequent rebuilding of the MCU, 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 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.