Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton has defended the decision to keep secret which character Sadie Sink is playing in the upcoming Marvel film, insisting there is a "very real reason" for the secrecy that audiences will understand and accept once they see the movie. The mystery has fuelled online speculation ahead of the film's cinema release, with many fans now convinced Sink is playing X-Men character Jean Grey, though Sink herself has only confirmed she is not playing Spider-Man or Aunt May.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Cretton said he doesn't think fans will be angry once they learn the reason for the concealment, comparing it to his own preference for avoiding trailers before watching a film. Sink, reportedly also set to appear in 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars, has separately described keeping the secret as "torture" during an appearance on The Tonight Show. Cretton also confirmed the film opens with a villain montage covering the four years since Spider-Man: No Way Home, and addressed comments from Tom Holland about the title's meaning, saying it does reflect where his character ends up. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is due in cinemas on 31 July.