Update: For the full, latest breakdown of the evidence and competing theories, see Is Sadie Sink Playing Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
A new rumor says Sadie Sink is set to play Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, meaning Marvel may introduce the X-Men through Tom Hollandās next film before they fully arrive in Avengers: Doomsday.
This was the first scoop ā for the latest on where it stands now, see our updated explainer: Is Sadie Sink Jean Grey in Brand New Day?
What does the rumor say?
The scoop comes from Josh of Den of Nerds on X, who wrote: āSadie Sink is playing Jean Grey and the scoopers that say she ISNāT are WRONG.ā
Josh added: āMarvel is LYING to ppl about Sadie just like they LIED to Jeff Sneider when he had the RDJ Doctor Doom thing before everyoneā¦ The truth will come out tho!!!ā
Update: Josh adds that Harris Dickinson could be Cyclops.
Fox X-Men Set For Avengers: Doomsday
If the Sadie Sink rumor is real, Marvel may be positioning Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the quiet lead-in to the MCUās full-scale mutant debut coming following Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Fox X-Men are already confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives just a few months after Brand New Day.
Doomsday will feature the classic Fox-era lineup, including characters like Professor X, Magneto, Beast, Cyclops, and the rest of the iconic team.
With Brand New Day hitting theaters on July 31, 2026, and Doomsday releasing December 18, 2026, the timeline lines up perfectly for Peter Parkerās next movie to plant the seeds of the mutant storyline before Marvel blows the doors off with the multiversal crossover.
How Sadie Sink Fits In: Variant or the MCUās First Real Mutant?
If Sink is Jean Grey, several theories immediately make sense.
She could be playing a Variant Jean Grey, allowing Marvel to bring in a younger version who can exist in the MCU long-term while still keeping the Fox Jean intact for Doomsday.
Another possibility is that Marvel may introduce the āmainā MCU Jean Grey directly through Spider-Man, using her appearance to tie Peter into the mutant storyline early.
Thereās also the angle that Sinkās Jean could be the MCUās second mutant after Kamala Khan, though even that status is murky after Feigeās post-Endgame failure that is rumored to be erased.
Regardless, introducing Jean in a Spider-Man film instantly pulls Peter into a storyline much bigger than street-level crime, connecting him to the MCUās mutant future. In an alternate universe, Peter and MJ have who might be a mutant daughter, May Parker, who is also rumored to be played by Sink.
Spider-Man and Jean Grey in the Comics
Spider-Man and Jean Grey actually share some notable comic book history, even if they were never a long-term pairing.
Their earliest interactions date back to the 1970s in issues of Marvel Team-Up, where the two fought alongside the original X-Men.
One of their first team-ups even had Peter kiss Jean before swinging away, as pictured above.
They also fought cosmic threats together in later issues, with Jean often portrayed as one of the most powerful members of the group.
Years later, Spider-Man taught at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, putting him directly inside the X-Men world and interacting with characters tied to Jeanās legacy.
So while the two arenāt traditionally linked as a duo, Marvel introducing them together on screen wouldnāt be unprecedented.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Release Info
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to release on July 31, 2026.
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton with a script from Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and is produced by Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal.
Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker alongside Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned.
The movie also features Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Michael Mando as Mac Gargan, Marvin Jones III as Tombstone, and several newly added cast members.
Sadie Sink is among the actors with undisclosed roles, and the rumor now points heavily to her portraying Jean Grey.
