After months of keeping Sadie Sink's role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day under wraps, Marvel Studios has finally let the cat out of the bag. Below, we get into just who Sink is playing, and the history of the Marvel comics character.
It should come as no surprise that major spoilers follow, so make sure you have seen the new MCU movie before reading on. But before you head to the cinema, check out our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review.
Up until the new Spidey movie hit the big screen, Sink had been kept out of all movie promotions, trailers (bar one faceless appearance), and even had to keep tight-lipped during the press run. However, that didn't stop Marvel fans from theorising who the Stranger Things star could be playing, pitching everything from The Punisher's vigilante pal Rachel Cole to mutant Angelica Jones, AKA Firestar.
But now, the secret is out. So what are you waiting for? Scroll down to find out who Sink is playing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. You can find answers to other burning questions in our breakdown of the Spider-Man: Brand New Day post-credits scene and our Spider-Man: Brand New Day ending explained.
Who does Sadie Sink play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Well, it looks like some fans were right all along. Sadie Sink officially plays X-Men hero Jean Grey. Due to Sink's red hair and sightings of the star wearing green and yellow on set, many fans were already certain that Sink would suit up as Marvel Studios' latest mutant. The character has been brought to life on the big screen twice before, first by Famke Janssen in the original X-Men trilogy, and then by Sophie Turner in the prequel films X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.
So, who is Jean Grey? Introduced in the very first X-Men comic in 1963, Grey has great telepathic and telekinetic powers that allow her to enter minds and control them, read thoughts, project her own thoughts onto others, form psychic links, and physically control others. However, Sink's version of Grey differs from the original comics. Instead of being dropped off at the X-Mansion by her parents, Sink's Grey and her sister Sara Grey were given up for adoption when their mother couldn't cope with their powers.
Though Sink's younger representation of Jean is at the very start of her superhero journey, in the comics, Grey's powers grow to unprecedented levels. Not only can she fly, but while using the Phoenix Force, Grey can seize control on a molecular level, meaning she can manipulate structures, create and absorb energy, and resurrect the dead. However, her powers can also be her downfall. The Phoenix Force has worked against her multiple times, causing her to do terrible things, including attempting to destroy a world.
As for Spider-Man, Grey has had multiple team-ups with the webslinger throughout the years. The pair first crossed paths in the 1972 comic Marvel Team-Up #4, when the X-Men blame Spidey for kidnapping one of Professor X's old colleagues. Of course, it wasn't Parker who committed the crime, so the two quickly went from enemies to friends, much like in the new movie.
What does Sadie Sink's MCU future look like?
As of this moment, Marvel has yet to cast Sink in any further MCU projects, which may just be down to the fact that her role had been kept a secret. However, there is a new X-Men movie on the way from Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier, which is set to "start anew" and introduce a new, younger class of mutants. Could Sink be a taste of what's to come?
As mentioned before, Sink's Grey is just at the start of her superhero journey, and has a long way to go to become one of, if not the, most powerful Marvel hero. It would be a shame to waste Grey's huge character development in Brand New Day.
As for the original mutants, most of the Fox-era X-Men are returning in Avengers: Doomsday. But from the new Doomsday synopsis, it sounds as though that may be their last day in the sun. However, original Grey star Famke Janssen is not returning for Doomsday, which makes us wonder if Sink will make an appearance. We're not holding our breath, though, as it doesn't look like Tom Holland's Spidey will be included in the fifth Avengers outing at this point.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is out in UK cinemas now, and hits theatres in the US on July 31. For more, see where Brand New Day places in our list of the best Spider-Man movies, and keep up with new Marvel movies and TV shows heading your way.
