Peter’s classmates to get sidelined in ‘Spider-Man 4’ as Sadie Sink joins, fans roast: "Good. They’re holding him back"

Peter Parker's classmates are being phased out of significant screen time in Spider-Man 4. The sequel film, swinging onto screens on July 31, 2026, is ushering in some big changes on its plate—and that includes bringing Stranger Things alum Sadie Sink on board.

Deadline says the new path means less of Peter's former high school team and more room for newcomers.

The media outlet reports:

“By staying on track with that plotline, one can expect Holland’s old castmates to have reduced roles while newcomers are added to the ensemble, with Sink being the first major new role.”

Spider-Man 4 fever has finally reached a boiling point, and—in a rare shift of events—fans are actually okay with a significant change.

This time around, though, the strays caught up by Peter Parker's classmates, who are reportedly receiving way less screen time.

Some fans think it's a W for him, given that his high school gang was holding him back. Others are simply glad they won't have to sit through more cringey one-liners.

A user (@SolumSursum) stated:

"Good. They’re holding him back."

They were side characters in their own side plots, anyway.

Another user (@DonaldEBeaneJr) added:

"Good. These two are mediocre."

Marvel probably read the Rotten Tomatoes reviews.

One user (@otto_tenet) stated:

"Yay! Perhaps that will result in less forced comedy and fewer quips."

So no more Ned hacking government databases under 5 minutes in Spider-Man 4.

This user (@The_Real__Adam) asked a genuine question:

"Why they still in the films?"

We don't know that, but the budget cuts should’ve hit them three movies ago.

Meanwhile, a user (@OlyaKarLott) mentioned:

"Thank god they were annoying."

Doctor Strange erased them from his life, and Marvel finally followed suit for Spider-Man 4.

A user (@Ghostmalone90) quipped:

"Mid side kicks anyway. He needs to upgrade."

A user (@Courier1138) thinks:

"I mean yeah Ned added nothing to those films, what a terrible character."

Ned’s biggest contribution was existing.

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Peter Parker's classmates in Spider-Man 4

One of the most significant changes in Spider-Man 4 is that Zendaya's role as MJ has been minimized.

MJ has been in the foreground in the previous Spider-Man films, as she has been Peter's friend and girlfriend.

Since Zendaya is too busy being scheduled to feature in series such as Euphoria and Dune: Messiah, she will not be featured in Spider-Man 4, as The InSneider earlier reported.

Another character likely to see reduced involvement is Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon. While there hasn't been explicit confirmation of Ned's role, the general trend suggests that familiar classmates will have less screen time.

Spider-Man 4 can bring in a new set of classmates for Peter Parker, signaling a change in his social life.

This is especially appropriate given that the movie is said to take Peter to college, where new relationships and interactions are possible.

The addition of new classmates follows the comic book origin of Spider-Man, where Peter encounters characters such as Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy in college.

While Sadie Sink's character's identity is not known, rumor has it that she might have a central role, perhaps that of a new love interest or friend for Peter.

Others speculate that she might get to be Firestar, a mutant superhero and one that Peter Parker shares in the comics.

Still, another theory says that she can portray a version of Mary Jane Watson from another universe because of the chance of a multiverse structure of Spider-Man 4.

Also read: https://www.soapcentral.com/humor/netizens-poke-fun-who-going-play-as-sadie-sink-joins-cast-spider-man-4-hitting-theaters-july-31-2026