Sadie Sink discusses her portrayal of Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and shares her thoughts on the future of the X-Men.

      Having kept her character a closely guarded secret until the film's release last month (aside from a slip during the premiere live-stream), Marvel Studios is finally allowing Sadie Sink to discuss her role in the blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as well as her involvement in the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe that is to come.

      As anyone who has watched the film (or followed online discussions) in the past couple of weeks will know, the Stranger Things actress takes on the role of the X-Men character Jean Grey. The Spidey sequel acts as a prologue for Marvel's ‘Mutant Saga’ and the future introduction of a rebooted X-Men team into the MCU.

      “It started with these online rumors I was noticing. Usually, there’s not much truth to them, but in this case, there was,” Sink shared with Vanity Fair about how she came to be cast. “The women in X-Men are so powerful and fascinating—their relationship with their abilities, their capacity for incredible feats. While it gives them a lot of strength, it also has negative impacts on their lives. It was interesting to explore the downside of Jean's abilities, how she's still discovering her potential. Before she can truly understand her powers and their meaning, they end up being exploited by those intending to use them for harm, including what her sister can do. I was excited to portray someone who has been harmed by her abilities, highlighting how she only knows to use them for self-defense or as a threat rather than as a villain.”

      “I did an extensive study on X-Men and watched the whole series,” she noted in regard to her preparation for the role. “I was also curious about how her powers manifest. I’ve spent a decade on Stranger Things, so I’m familiar with that aspect. But that was probably what I was most anxious about: How to convey that? I studied how the other actors approached it physically, and of course, visual effects are a big part of that. But what matters most to me is that, like with any role, you infuse a significant part of yourself into the character. So my portrayal is going to be inherently different from others we’ve seen. It feels like a very distinct interpretation.”

      In addition to her role in Avengers: Secret Wars, Sink’s Jean Grey will feature in the upcoming X-Men reboot directed by Jake Schreier. While the actress refrained from commenting on recent casting rumors, such as Heartstopper’s Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops, she hinted at progress regarding the casting: “There are many rumors online, but things are coming together. The timing is really exciting, and the planning is clever, especially with introducing a significant mutant through Spider-Man. I think a fantastic cast is being assembled, and people will be thrilled when it’s all revealed.”

      Regarding the cast, alongside Kit Connor as Cyclops, it has also been reported that Samara Weaving from Ready or Not will portray Emma Frost, with various other roles rumored as well. Although unconfirmed, there is increasing anticipation that Marvel may unveil its new team of mutant superheroes at Disney’s D23 Expo this upcoming weekend.

      It’s a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Now a full-time crime fighter as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him, the pressure of watching his old friends move on without him ignites a change in Peter that he may struggle to manage. Yet, this transformation may be precisely what is needed to confront a shocking new threat to the city and those he cares about—a powerful villain who is almost invisible. While the world may have forgotten Peter Parker, he hasn’t forgotten them.

      Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo.