'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAiEAACAQQBBAMAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBESIQUGByMxMlH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBf/EAB0RAAEEAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEMXEREiH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AJS68isH6PHaQ+q5kxG2xVoAg1XX8+wyOQcVY2vd8iWsKBIGCoBsYsk8fNKVRrxtnJ77TGWXQg8e4zpf/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink, widely known for portraying Max, will enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She is set to star alongside Tom Holland's reprisal of Peter Parker in Spider-Man 4.
Marvel and Sony haven't announced who Sink will portray, but reports indicate that she plays an important role. Some speculate that she might be Jean Grey, a well-known X-Men character. Others speculate she might be a new iteration of Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's traditional love interest. With very little official news, fans are left wondering.
Spider-Man 4 is already in production, and the shooting is set to start later this year. Spider-Man 4 is going to be Marvel's stand-alone Spider-Man film after No Way Home, which isolated Peter Parker entirely after removing him from all memories.
Who is Sadie Sink playing in Spider-Man 4?
Per Deadline, the theory was that Sink would be Jean Grey, an influential mutant who has been interpreted by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in previous X-Men movies. Announcements in late 2024 indicated that she was the leading candidate, but no indication was given on when Jean Grey would become a part of the MCU officially.
The other potential is that she could be playing Mary Jane Watson. Zendaya's MJ character has played the role in the MCU, but she is not identical to the comic book Mary Jane. If Sink were playing MJ, it would be a significant change for the series.
Other fans have also speculated that she might be cast as Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, a character who has been rumored for Spider-Man 4 for quite a while.
What this means for the MCU
Sink's casting contributes to the buzz about Spider-Man 4. With the film placed between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, it's possible that the movie will feature new characters who will become key players in future Marvel narratives. Should Sink play Jean Grey, then this is potentially the beginning of fully integrating the X-Men into the MCU.
The last Spider-Man film, No Way Home, opened the multiverse by returning past Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. If the new movie continues down the same route, it might imply crossover events, time travel, or even parallel universes where new iterations of familiar characters emerge.
If Sink is doing Mary Jane, then that raises questions about what this does to Zendaya's MJ. Would the movie introduce an alternate version of the character? Or might it draw from the comics, where Peter develops relationships with various characters throughout the years?
What we know about Spider-Man 4 so far
Plot points are being kept a secret, though Spider-Man 4 has an announced release date of July 31, 2026. Destin Daniel Cretton, the guy who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been hired to direct instead of Jon Watts, who directed the first three MCU Spider-Man movies.
Tom Holland's return has been confirmed, but none of the other cast members have been reported. Zendaya's MJ has a rumored smaller role, though Marvel has yet to confirm that.
Trending
Sink's inclusion in the cast is a huge deal, and her character—be it Jean Grey, Mary Jane, or someone else entirely—could mean a lot to the future of the MCU.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
