Speculation regarding Marvel Cinematic Universe casting is nothing new, but what’s gone on with Sadie Sink ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is on a different level.
It’s to the point that the speculation has become part of the movie’s marketing, with Sink herself confirming after the trailer that she:
- Is not Aunt May
- Is not Spider-Man
- Is in the movie.
Not a whole lot to go on. But between the comic book source material, fan theories and a general understanding of the MCU’s direction — plus a potential slip-up from Tom Holland — it does feel like we can narrow down our expectations to four Marvel characters. All of which stem from the same Marvel family.
Who is Sadie Sink Playing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Jean Grey
Tom Holland may have done it again. Jean Grey is the character that most expect Sink to portray, and it feels as though Holland confirmed it in this recent interview (7:35), stating Sink “handled the pressure of the character that she’s playing with such grace.”
There’s no one else on this list — or any other list of potential characters that I’ve seen — that would come with specific pressure worth calling out besides Jean Grey. Holland’s comment even takes a character like Karma — who I’ve seen mentioned and would make sense from a power-set standpoint — and removes her from realistic consideration.
Combine that with the movie’s unnamed villain having the ability “to jump into the mind of another person,” along with the MCU moving into its X-Men era, and it all makes too much sense.
Rachel Summers
The daughter of Jean Grey and Scott Summers (aka Cyclops) has been getting some traction as another option. Anyone affiliated with the Phoenix Force is not one to take lightly.
Rachel Summers has the telepathic and telekinetic abilities to fit the “to jump into the mind of another person” part of the role. She also has time-traveling capabilities, which could make her a major player — maybe even help Peter Parker rekindle relationships with old friends.
Unfortunately, as much as Mother Askani is a big deal, I don’t think she fits the mold of Holland’s potentially telling remark. But for all I said earlier about no one else fitting that mold besides Jean Grey, there may be two other Marvel characters who (kind of) might.
Madelyne Pryor
The more I think about this potential casting, the more I love it.
This would be a great curveball for fans who aren’t overly familiar with the source material, or even Season 1 of X-Men ’97. Without saying it up front, this would confirm that Sink is playing the role of two Marvel characters, since Madelyne Pryor is a clone of Jean Grey.
It’d also allow for a lot more creative freedom in this movie. While Madelyne Pryor is the mother of fan-favorite Cable and more a victim of being a Mister Sinister creation, she’s certainly not the hero that is Jean Grey. This casting would give Spider-Man: Brand New Day greater stakes. Because unlike Jean Grey, her clone does not have to be part of the MCU moving forward.
This casting also fits the aforementioned remark from Holland. Not quite on the same level as Jean Grey, of course, but playing the clone of one of the most iconic X-Men most certainly would come with a lot of pressure.
With regard to the integration of the X-Men in the MCU, featuring Madelyne Pryor in Spider-Man: Brand New Day would serve as another smooth step in their ongoing soft launch leading up to Avengers: Doomsday.
Hope Summers
This would be another fascinating casting for Sink.
To be clear: It’s not that I’m not looking forward to the MCU’s Jean Grey — Sink would be great for that role. I’m just more interested in seeing Marvel Studios take some confident swings.
The adoptive daughter of Cable (Nathan Summers — the son of Scott Summers and the aforementioned Madelyne Pryor), Hope Summers is also known as the Mutant Messiah. She can both mimic the powers of other mutants and absorb their powers (think Rogue). Hope Summers can also manipulate the powers of other mutants. While there aren’t any mutants for her to syphon from in the MCU yet (save Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel), it would not be a stretch for Marvel Studios to alter these powers from the comics slightly so that they applied to all super-powered beings.
Now, Holland’s comments do make Hope Summers less likely. Still, that sort of remark could apply to someone referred to as the Mutant Messiah.
Unlike Madelyne Pryor, casting Sink as Hope Summers would give her the potential for a greater role in X-Men entering the MCU — maybe even being the catalyst.
