Earlier this month, Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in "Stranger Things," was reported to be joining Tom Holland in the much-anticipated Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 film "Chuck," is set to appear in this upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, slated to begin filming later this year with a release date of July 31, 2026.

While Marvel and Sony have not officially commented on this news, Deadline speculated that Sink could potentially portray the X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe. IGN has further explored the possibilities of which Marvel characters Sadie Sink might embody 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, playfully noting that the rumor was "awesome." When asked directly about discussions with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige or any Marvel representative regarding Jean Grey, she responded with a simple "No," and added, "I have nothing to say about this." However, she acknowledged the appeal of the Jean Grey character, saying, "It’s a great character, so it was cool to read!" and expressed excitement about the potential long-term commitment to an MCU role, stating, "I think that’s super exciting."

The interview concluded with Sink keeping her options open, hinting that future discussions might shed more light on her involvement with the MCU. Horowitz suggested revisiting the topic once Sink's role is officially confirmed.

Last year, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming films. At the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would soon see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the next few MCU movies, without specifying which characters or films.

Discussing the broader inclusion of the X-Men, Feige stated, "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."

Assuming "few" refers to three movies, the next few MCU films include "Captain America: Brave New World," "Thunderbolts," and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" in July 2025. However, it seems more likely that mutants will appear more prominently in Phase 6 movies, such as "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Spider-Man 4" in 2026, and "Avengers: Secret Wars" in 2027. The potential return of Deadpool and Wolverine, following their successful standalone film, and even Channing Tatum as Gambit, adds to the excitement.

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 highlighted the clear vision for the MCU's future, stating, "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 influenced by the X-Men, while in the immediate future, Storm made her first appearance in the wider 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. There is increasing speculation that one of these films might be dedicated to the X-Men.