Sadie Sink Joins Spider-Man 4 Cast with Tom Holland

Exciting news for fans of both *Stranger Things* and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield, is set to join the cast of *Spider-Man 4* alongside Tom Holland. According to Deadline, Sink, who debuted in the 2016 film *Chuck*, will be part of the upcoming MCU movie, which is slated to start filming later this year and is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained tight-lipped about the news when approached by Deadline.

Speculation is rife about the character Sink will portray. Deadline suggests she might take on the role of the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, possibly Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the storyline could be tricky given Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. With *Spider-Man: No Way Home* setting the stage for a potential reset, Sink's role is expected to be significant.

Tom Holland, currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey*, is set to transition to *Spider-Man 4* once his current project wraps up, 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 films. Speaking 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, though he did not specify which characters or films. He further elaborated on the future of the X-Men in the MCU, stating, "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)

The next few MCU movies, if we interpret "few" as three, include *Captain America: Brave New World*, *Thunderbolts*, and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* in July 2025. However, it's more likely that mutants will make appearances in Phase 6 films 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 return of Channing Tatum as Gambit, are among the key questions fans are eager to have answered.

Feige has emphasized that the X-Men will play a crucial 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 focused on the X-Men. In the short term, Storm made her debut 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, with one of these likely to be an X-Men film.