Marvel Studios has returned to breaking its own benchmarks with the opening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The movie collected $360 million domestically in its opening weekend, beating the record of $357 million, which had been held by the studio’s Avengers: Endgame (2019). There are also possible spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, so proceed only if you’re comfortable with them.
But, even as some fans still scramble for tickets to see the spectacle on the big screen, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has dropped a major hint about the future of the franchise. And, it concerns the surprise package of the movie: 24-year-old Sadie Sink.
It has been an eventful year for the Stranger Things star. In March 2025, her casting in Brand New Day was announced, in a deliberately unspecified role.
On New Year’s Eve, she turned out as Max Mayfield one last time in the divisive finale of the much-acclaimed Netflix series. But for Sink, even stranger things were happening in real life, as fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) obsessed over the character she would be playing in Spider-Man.
The dominant theory, gleaned from combing every trailer frame, was that it would be Jean Grey, one of the most powerful characters in Marvel lore.
As the guess gained momentum, helped by a dogged media ecosystem, Sink became something of a master at dodging the question. In January, she said she’d learned of her casting through fan theories before the studio’s announcement.
At one point, an interviewer asked her co-stars to blink twice if she was playing Jean Grey. Marketing tapped into the buzz, releasing a promo close to release in which Sink offered three confirmations: she is not Spider-Man; she is not his aunt May; she is in the movie.
When the movie released on July 31, the internet theorists were proven right. Fans who are yet to see the film are avoiding social media to prevent reveals from popping up on their reels. But, almost a week post-release, Feige decided that it was time to talk about Sink’s role. He told Variety that Sink’s Jean Grey would be central to steering the franchise forward.
“Sadie’s character is one that fans know has immense significance within the Marvel Universe, and she plays a key role in the future of the MCU,” he said.
Regarding the decision to keep Sink’s role under wraps, he said it was purely about creating the best possible opening weekend experience for the audience.
“I'm just happy,” he added, “that the secret is finally out and that Sadie can stop dodging the question.”
