Sadie Sink has confirmed that she plays Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, ending more than a year of fan speculation about her secret Marvel role. She described the reveal as a relief and said discussions are already under way about Jean’s future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including with X-Men director Jake Schreier.

Sink said she knew little about Jean Grey or the X-Men before Marvel executives Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito approached her, but quickly regarded the part as a “no-brainer”. Her version of Jean is presented as a troubled antagonist rather than a straightforward villain: Sink said the character’s harmful actions are justified in her own mind because she has herself been harmed. Marvel is also building towards an X-Men film, with casting announcements for Emma Frost and Cyclops suggesting the wider team is beginning to assemble.