Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland

Sadie Sink, renowned for her role as Max Mayfield in the hit series *Stranger Things*, is reportedly set to join Tom Holland in the highly anticipated *Spider-Man 4*. According to Deadline, Sink, who made her cinematic debut in the 2016 sports drama *Chuck*, will be a part of this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, which is slated to commence filming later this year with a release date set for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained tight-lipped when approached for comments by Deadline.

Speculation from Deadline suggests that Sink might portray the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another fan-favorite redhead, possibly Mary Jane Watson. The latter's inclusion raises questions about how it would mesh with Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in prior Spider-Man films. Given the significant events in *Spider-Man: No Way Home*, where Peter reintroduces himself to MJ after Doctor Strange erases his identity from everyone's memory, Sink's role could signal a fresh start for the franchise.

Tom Holland is currently involved in filming Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey*. Plans are in place for him to transition to *Spider-Man 4* once he concludes his work on Nolan's project, as per Deadline's report.

Last year, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming slate of films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige promised fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the forthcoming movies, though he refrained from specifying which characters or films.

Feige elaborated on the future 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."

Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)

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Assuming "few" refers to three movies, the next candidates for X-Men introductions could be *Captain America: Brave New World*, *Thunderbolts*, and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* scheduled for July 2025. However, it's more probable that mutant characters will appear throughout Phase 6, including 2026's *Avengers: Doomsday*, *Spider-Man 4*, and 2027's *Avengers: Secret Wars*. The question remains whether Deadpool and Wolverine will make a return to the MCU, following their successful standalone film. There's also the possibility of Channing Tatum reprising his role as Gambit.

Feige has emphasized that the X-Men will play a pivotal role in the MCU's future post-*Secret Wars*. He remarked, "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. In the interim, Storm made her debut in *What If...? Season 3*, marking her first appearance in the broader MCU.

Looking ahead, Marvel Studios added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. It's increasingly likely that one of these films will be dedicated to the X-Men.