The casting of Sadie Sink in Spider-Man 4 has kicked off a storm of speculation. With fans eager to know who the Stranger Things star will play in Tom Holland’s next web-slinging adventure, a new update suggests that the “prevailing theory” of Jean Grey might not be in the cards.
According to the initial report Sink’s role is still under wraps, but their report hinted she could be playing “another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character.”
While Jean Grey’s name has been thrown around, industry insider Jeff Sneider, who initially fueled those rumors, now believes the powerful mutant might be off the table.
Sneider explains in his latest newsletter that Sony’s agreement with Marvel requires each Spider-Man film to feature a significant MCU character. Jean Grey would certainly fit that bill, but there’s a big hitch:
“Adding [Jean Grey] to Spider-Man 4 could require Sony to give Lauren Shuler Donner a producing credit and fee, which Sony would be unlikely to agree to. Donner wasn’t mentioned in Deadline’s story alongside producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal.”
Essentially, bringing Jean into the mix would complicate things financially and contractually, making it a less likely possibility.
With Jean seemingly out, attention has turned to the “beloved redheaded” Spider-Man characters. The immediate assumption was Mary Jane Watson, but with Zendaya’s “MJ” already established in the MCU, this seems unlikely, unless Marvel pulls some kind of twist.
Sneider, however, suggests that Sink might be in line for Firestar or Black Cat, two characters that could fit more naturally into this universe.
Firestar was originally created for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and she has deep Marvel roots. Black Cat aka Felicia Hardy, meanwhile, has long been a key player in Spidey’s world as both an ally and love interest.
While hair color alone doesn’t define a role, Sink’s natural red hair is a signature part of her look. If Marvel is leaning into that, a redheaded character seems likely.
Theories about Spider-Man 4 have been running wild for months. Along with Sink’s mystery role, rumors have swirled about the possible return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men, as well as the appearances of Venom, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Black Cat, The Punisher, Mephisto, Kingpin, and Knull.
As for Holland, he remains tight-lipped about what’s next for Peter Parker, saying in a recent interview: “We have the best in the business working toward whatever the story might be. But until we’ve cracked it, we have a legacy to protect. The third movie was so special in so many ways that we need to make sure we do the right thing.”
Spider-Man 4 was recently pushed back a week from July 24, 2026 to July 31, 2026.
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