Stranger Things star Sadie Sink has reportedly landed a role in Spider-Man 4, joining Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This news arrives amid reports that Zendaya’s involvement in the upcoming film will be notably smaller than before.
Deadline broke the story, revealing that Sink, widely recognized for her portrayal of Max Mayfield, has been tapped to appear in the highly anticipated Spider-Man sequel. While rumors previously suggested she was being considered for the role of mutant Jean Grey in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot, insiders now claim she will instead play a Multiversal version of Mary Jane Watson.
“[Jeff] Sneider, if you remember, was the first to break the story that Sink was the frontrunner for Jean Grey in Marvel Studios’ X-Men and admits to being surprised that Sink was announced for Spider-Man 4 instead of the mutant reboot, but says he heard from his sources last night that Sink will likely be playing Watson, not Jean Grey,” Comic Book Movie reported.
Meanwhile, Zendaya’s role as Michelle Jones-Watson (MJ) is said to be “severely reduced” in Spider-Man 4 due to her busy schedule, according to scooper Jeff Sneider. The Euphoria star’s workload includes multiple major projects such as Dune 3 and Christopher Nolan’s upcoming feature, The Odyssey–a film that also stars Tom Holland.
Producer Amy Pascal previously teased that the next Spider-Man installment will pick up from Peter Parker’s decision to leave his personal identity behind and focus solely on being Spider-Man. “Well, we have to deal with the fact that he decided he was going to give up being Peter Parker, and he was going to focus on being Spider-Man because being Peter Parker was too hard,” Pascal explained to Deadline. “So that’s what the movie’s about… There’s room to grow.”
Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for directing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will helm Spider-Man 4, which is slated to hit theaters on July 31, 2026. The film will follow shortly after Avengers: Doomsday, the Russo Brothers’ epic crossover set to feature Holland’s Peter Parker, Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, and Chris Evans as a rumored version of Steve Rogers called Nomad.
Director Jon Watts previously described his Spider-Man trilogy as a reimagining of Peter Parker’s origin story. The rumored working title for Spider-Man 4, “Blue Oasis,” has led many to believe the film could take inspiration from Jeph Loeb’s 2002 comic series “Spider-Man: Blue.” The heartfelt series sees Peter recalling his romance with Gwen Stacy in a reflective narrative that aligns with Zendaya’s scaled-back role and Sink’s potential involvement.
“‘Spider-Man: Blue’ was a comic written by Jeph Loeb in 2002 that ran for six issues. The story is set on Valentine’s Day and presents a Spider-Man who feels ‘blue’ or depressed as he sits atop the Brooklyn Bridge,” The Cosmic Circus explained. “The story retells how Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy first met and fell in love in a beautifully told story that melts even the coldest of hearts.”
Before Spider-Man 4 arrives, Marvel fans can expect Phase Five to conclude with Thunderbolts*, followed by Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. Avengers: Doomsday will premiere just two months before Spider-Man 4 swings into theaters.
In addition, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently confirmed Black Panther 3 is officially in development. This news coincides with the announcement that veteran producer Nate Moore will leave Marvel Studios after completing Captain America: Brave New World (2025).
What do you think about Sadie Sink’s rumored role as Mary Jane Watson and Zendaya’s reported reduced screen time? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
