Tom Holland's MCU film, though Marvel has yet to comment on that claim. After months of little updates on the status of the next Spider-Man film, Holland's fourth MCU solo entry as Spider-Man has now received a major piece of casting news.

According to Deadline, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink has ed Spider-Man 4 in an undisclosed role. The report suggests the leading theory about who she could be playing is a member of the X-Men, Jean Grey. However, it also claims that "another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character" should not be discarded. That nod is clearly related to Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's most famous love interest in Marvel Comics. Since Zendaya's MJ took over the character's role and nickname in the MCU's Spider-Man movies, Sink's Spider-Man 4 role could end up being a shocking move from Marvel and Sony.

What Sadie Sink's Spider-Man 4 Casting Means

The Actress Could Completely Change The MCU

The timing of Sink's casting is certainly intriguing. In December 2024, Sink was reported as the frontrunner for the MCU's Jean Grey. At the time, there was no project mentioned as to where the X-Men character could make her debut in the franchise, but the latest Spider-Man 4 news makes the situation interesting. The new Spider-Man movie report mentioned that the main theory is that Sink is playing Jean Grey, as was previously reported. At 22, the Stranger Things actress could stay in the MCU for more than a decade, which fits Marvel's likely approach for the X-Men.

Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider, Miles Morales from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man in the middle
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When it comes to Mary Jane Watson, another character teased by the report, things start to become more complicated. Zendaya's MJ, while completely different from Mary Jane personality-wise, filled the character's role in the MCU. She is even called "MJ," the MCU's nod to Peter Parker's biggest love interest in the comics. That said, Sink's performance as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things shows she has the kind of confident attitude Mary Jane is known for. Black Cat had also been previously rumored for Spider-Man 4, and Sink has played characters comfortable with danger before to make Felicia Hardy exciting.

Our Take On Sadie Sink's Spider-Man 4 Casting

The Multiverse Rumors Might Be True After All

Sadie Sink in All Too Well with her hand on her red scarf draped over a stair bannister

Based on how Sink was previously reported to be in line to play the MCU's Jean Grey and how she is perfect for that whole in of looking exactly like her and having the skills to make Jean pop, I believe that her Spider-Man 4 role will end up being the X-Men member. That creates many questions related to why Jean would be in the film. Since Tom Holland's next Spider-Man movie is set between Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it is possible that some X-Men will appear in all three films, making Spider-Man 4 a multiverse story.

Spider-Man Brand New Day Logo Poster
Spider-Man 4
Not Yet Rated
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers
Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Stan Lee
Franchise(s)
Spider-Man

Cast

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Spider-Man 4 is the first sequel to the MCU's Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as the titular wall-crawler. After wiping his identity for the public's memory in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker continues his crime-fighting adventures without the aid of Iron Man technology or the of his former allies.

All Announced MCU Movies

Source: Deadline