One of the Biggest MCU X-Men Reboot Theories Was Just Debunked (& It’s a Good Thing)

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The X-Men movies were hugely popular years ago, helping to make superhero films mainstream. Now, Marvel Studios is working on a new X-Men reboot, hoping to launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a fresh direction. Jake Schreier, who is also directing the Thunderbolts movie, will be directing. While official details are scarce, rumors are circulating, especially about who might be cast. Earlier this year, reports suggested Harris Dickinson, Sadie Sink, and Julia Butters were being considered for important roles in the film.

Since the initial report, Sadie Sink has officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Fans immediately began speculating about who she might play, with many suggesting Jean Grey due to her red hair. However, recent set photos of Sink suggest her character could be someone entirely different from the comics. If this turns out to be the case, it could actually be a positive development for the movie.

Sadie Sink Spider-Man: Brand New Day Set Photos Explained

Fans recently got their first glimpse of actress Sadie Sink on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, months after she was cast. While the photo wasn’t clear, it showed Sink wearing boots, camouflage pants, and what looked like a military sweatshirt. This outfit suggests she isn’t playing Jean Grey, and instead, she’s more likely to be a character connected to Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, who is also returning for Brand New Day.

While it hasn’t been officially announced, the costume worn by the character Sink may belong to Rachel Cole-Alves. In the comics, Rachel is a former Marine whose life is shattered when her husband is killed. She then becomes a crime-fighter seeking revenge, and sometimes works with the Punisher. With Jon Bernthal returning for the new series and the story featuring organized crime – including Marvin Jones III as Tombstone – it’s likely Frank Castle will have a partner. One possibility is that Spider-Man will join forces with both Frank Castle and Rachel to prevent a gang war from erupting in New York City.

The set photo isn’t just challenging the popular theory about Jean Grey. Earlier this year, fans also speculated that Sadie Sink might play Mayday Parker, the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson, in a potential storyline. While both Jean Grey and Mayday Parker would be great additions, it might actually be better for the story if these theories don’t turn out to be true.

Why It’s a Good Thing If Sadie Sink Isn’t Playing Jean Grey

A major focus of the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie is a return to smaller, more personal stories. After Tom Holland’s Spider-Man faced cosmic threats like Thanos and fought alongside alternate versions of himself, the filmmakers want to focus on Peter Parker being a local hero, protecting the people of New York. While the movie will still have exciting action and special effects, it aims for a more realistic and relatable feel. This makes the inclusion of a powerful character like Jean Grey, known for her immense mutant abilities, potentially challenging for the film’s direction.

Launching Jean Grey’s story in Brand New Day isn’t the best timing. While a new X-Men movie is planned, it likely won’t be released until 2028. Marvel is positioning the mutants as the central focus of its next big storyline after Avengers: Secret Wars, so it would make more sense to introduce these new characters after that film. Plus, actors who played the X-Men in the Fox movies will appear in both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Starting Jean Grey’s story now would create expectations that Marvel can’t currently meet.

Beyond everything else, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a lot on its plate. The movie is expected to feature several villains, and it also needs to continue storylines for existing Marvel characters like Hulk, Punisher, and Spider-Man. Many people are already worried the film will be too crowded, so adding a major character like Jean Grey doesn’t seem necessary. It would be more effective to connect the new character, played by Sink, to the Punisher’s story, expanding on that part of the film instead of introducing a completely new element. It would be disappointing if Brand New Day couldn’t give a proper introduction to an X-Men character, potentially leaving audiences with a negative impression.

Whether Jean Grey will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming X-Men reboot is still a mystery, but if she does, it’s important she’s introduced properly in that film—not just as a cameo in another hero’s movie. Rumor has it Kevin Feige has a 10-year plan for the X-Men, leading many fans to speculate that the next major phase of the MCU will focus on mutants. If that’s the case, the X-Men will be crucial to the future of the franchise, and it’s important audiences connect with these characters. The best way to ensure that connection would be to give the X-Men their own dedicated film, allowing for a thorough introduction and development of the new cast.

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2025-10-26 14:11