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 made her cinematic debut in the 2016 film Chuck, is set to star in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, which will commence filming later this year and is slated for a release on July 31, 2026.

When contacted by Deadline, neither Marvel nor Sony provided any comments on the matter. However, the publication speculated that Sink might portray 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 that the rumor was "awesome." She stated, "This is news to me," in response to the speculation and confirmed she had not spoken to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any other Marvel representative about the role. Sink expressed her admiration for the character of Jean Grey, saying, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" When asked about the prospect of dedicating a significant amount of time to a role in the MCU, she found the idea "super exciting." The interview concluded with Sink keeping her future plans under wraps, hinting at a possible future discussion when her involvement might be 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 probable that mutant characters will appear in Phase 6 movies, such as 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, and the potential reprise of Channing Tatum's role as Gambit, are also points of interest.

Feige has emphasized that the X-Men will play a crucial 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's storyline, stating, "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, the character 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.