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While Marvel is keeping the actress’ role under lock and key until July 31, fan theories are running wild
NEED TO KNOW
- Sadie Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day has remained a secret, fueling fan theories about her character’s Marvel Cinematic Universe impact
- Director Destin Daniel Cretton has teased that the secrecy is crucial and will make sense after the film’s release
- Fans speculate Sink could play Jean Grey, Gwen Stacy, Mayday Parker or Rachel Summers
Sadie Sink‘s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been shrouded in mystery.
The Stranger Things star, 24, is playing one of the most closely guarded characters in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as her identity has yet to be revealed just days before the film’s release. That secrecy has only fueled months of speculation, with fans convinced that Sink’s character could have major implications for the future of the MCU.
Neither Marvel Studios nor director Destin Daniel Cretton have confirmed her role, but they’ve made it clear there’s a reason they’re being so careful.
“If people are gonna get mad, I can’t control that!” Cretton, 47, told Rolling Stone in an interview published July 20 when asked whether keeping Sink’s role secret could ultimately frustrate fans. “I wish everything was a secret.”
He continued, “But you’ll see when you watch the movie that there’s a very real reason not to tell people who Sadie Sink is playing. And I don’t think you’ll get mad at it. I think you’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’m glad I didn’t know that.’ ”
That promise has only intensified curiosity surrounding Sink’s role. The actress has notably been absent from much of the film’s marketing campaign, appearing only briefly in trailers and promotional materials. But as the cast continues the press tour for Brand New Day, Sink has started addressing the speculation, without actually giving anything away, of course.
In a comical video shared on the film’s official Instagram account on July 17, Sink poked fun at the intense speculation surrounding her role, joking that she can confirm she’s neither Spider-Man nor his beloved Aunt May — only that she’s actually in the movie.
So who is Sink playing? Here are four fan theories, explained.
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Jean Grey
The leading theory online is that Sink is playing a young Jean Grey, potentially paving the way for the long-awaited introduction of the X-Men into the MCU.
A telepath and telekinetic known for her connection to the cosmic Phoenix Force, Grey has long been one of the central X-Men figures in both the comics and films. The character was previously played by Famke Janssen in Fox’s original X-Men films and later by Sophie Turner in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.
Gwen Stacy
Another popular theory points to Gwen Stacy, one of Spider-Man’s most important supporting characters and love interests in Marvel Comics. The character was memorably played by Bryce Dallas Howard in Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man 3 before Emma Stone brought Gwen to life in The Amazing Spider-Man films opposite Andrew Garfield.
Gwen has also become a major figure in the animated Spider-Verse movies through Spider-Gwen, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld. Some fans believe the MCU could introduce its own version of Gwen as Peter Parker begins a new chapter following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Mayday Parker
Some fans have speculated that Sink could portray Mayday Parker, the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson from an alternate Marvel timeline. Also known as Spider-Girl, Mayday inherited her father’s powers and became a superhero in her own right, making her a compelling choice if Marvel wants to explore the multiverse further.
Rachel Summers
A less common but still popular theory is that Sink could be playing Rachel Summers, the daughter of Jean Grey and Scott Summers (Cyclops) from an alternate dystopian future. Like her mother, Rachel possesses powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities and has been a key figure in several X-Men storylines involving time travel and alternate realities.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31.
Read the original article on People
