For more than a year, Sadie Sink had to keep her role in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” a secret. Sink, who was offered the part after her breakout performances in “Stranger Things” and “The Whale,” showed up to the London set without having read a full script. For security, her character was referred to with a code name.
When it came time to promote the film this summer, the trailers hadn’t revealed more than the fact that Sink’s character is a hooded figure with questionable intentions — and the ability to jump into anyone’s mind. So, even as Sink showed up for photo calls with her co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya and partook in interviews, she had to find creative ways to talk around what she’d done on set.
As obvious as it might’ve been to the Marvel faithful that Sink was playing Jean Grey, the Omega-level mutant who will go on to star in the studio’s upcoming “X-Men” movie, Sink wasn’t going to be the one who spoiled it.
And she didn’t. Steve Lacy did — right at the finish line.
At the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles, the R&B singer, who has a song on the “Brand New Day” soundtrack, revealed that his favorite character from the movie was the villain, “Jean,” during the official red carpet live stream. “She’s the villain but, like, there’s a reason to her madness,” he said.
What did Sink make of that moment? “Honestly, it was amazing!” Sink tells Variety, laughing. “I was like, ‘Ah!’ He kind of set me free in a lot of ways. And I’m such a big fan of his.”
To be fair, Sink had already told a few trusted people the truth, including her “Stranger Things” bosses, Matt and Ross Duffer. But now that the movie is in theaters (supplanting “Avengers: Endgame” as the biggest domestic debut in box office history and grossing $1.15 billion worldwide in just seven days) and Sink’s secret identity is revealed, she’s finally gotten the green light to discuss her experience as the third actress to play the role after Famke Janssen in Fox’s “X-Men” movies and Sophie Turner in the 2010s reboot movies.
In her first interview since “Brand New Day” debuted, Sink explains how she got cast in the role, how she developed her take on the character and her excitement about what’s to come when Jean joins the X-Men. The one thing Sink can’t reveal is how many Marvel movies she’s signed on for.
“I can’t really say …” Sink demurs when asked if her contract runs two movies or 10. (Kevin Feige is always watching.)
Read on for more.
Congratulations! You can finally talk about it.
I know, what a relief.
What’s one question you’ve been dying to answer?
I don’t know. I haven’t even thought about it. I’ve mostly just been thinking about what I can’t say. So now that I can say stuff, I’m like, ‘Wait, how do I talk about this?’
