Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, is set to join Tom Holland in the highly anticipated Spider-Man 4. According to Deadline, filming for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie is scheduled to start later this year, with a release date set for July 31, 2026. Both Marvel and Sony have remained tight-lipped about the news, offering no comments to Deadline.

Speculation is rife about Sink's role in the film, with suggestions she could portray the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey or another beloved redheaded character from the Spider-Man universe, such as Mary Jane Watson. However, integrating Mary Jane into the storyline poses challenges, given Peter Parker's ongoing relationship with Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, portrayed by Zendaya in previous films. Deadline indicates that Sink's role will be significant, hinting at a potential reset following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter's identity was erased from everyone's memory.

Tom Holland, currently involved in shooting Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is expected to transition directly to Spider-Man 4 upon completion, as per Deadline.

Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the inclusion of X-Men characters in upcoming MCU 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 next few MCU movies. He also teased that the storyline of Secret Wars would pave the way for a new era of mutants and X-Men in the MCU.

Every Confirmed Mutant in the MCU (So Far)

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Feige's comments suggest that mutant characters might appear in upcoming films such as Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, it seems more probable that significant mutant introductions will occur in Phase 6 movies, including Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 in 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. There's also speculation about the return of characters like Deadpool and Wolverine, and possibly Channing Tatum as Gambit.

Feige has confirmed that the X-Men will play a crucial role in the MCU's future following Secret Wars. He stated, "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."

This suggests that Phase 7 of the MCU will be heavily influenced by 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, with speculation that one could be an X-Men film.