One of the biggest questions related to any upcoming Marvel movies revolves around Sadie Sink’s mysteriously unspecified new role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which the stars have been keen to troll fans over. The two biggest theories have her playing either Spidey’s comic love interest Gwen Stacey, which seems fitting, or the all-powerful Jean Grey. (With a third avenue being that she’s actually one of the film’s many villains.)

Now, it appears we can remove the mutant telepath from the rumor mill, as Spidey portrayer Tom Holland himself has shut down the notion that Jean Grey will be in Brand New Day at all. In an interview with Natalia Kreuser (via Instagram), the actor was asked point-blank about the X-Men heroine, and he didn’t even craftily attempt to beat around the bush with his answer. As he put it:

There you have it, sports fans. Tom Holland, one of the crown kings of MCU spoilers, has seemingly confirmed that Jean Grey will NOT show up during the runtime of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

I Hope Tom Holland Is Telling The Truth Here

As awesome as it would genuinely be for the MCU's revamped Jean Grey to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it seemingly doesn't make that much sense for these characters' timelines, given the all-around lack of confirmed mutants on this Earth. That will all change with Avengers: Doomsday, which Kevin Feige pretty much explained will wipe out the timeline for Fox's X-Men characters, and then a new lineup of character will rise up to take their places for Secret Wars and beyond.

As such, it would be bizarre for the first new mutant to show up in this movie, five months before Doomsday hits. theaters, right? I think so, unless her arrival plays directly into how the storyline flips things around to set-up Spidey's eventual return in an Avengers sequel. But that just seems too messy for a movie that already has a dozen supporting characters. (O.G. Jean Grey Famke Janssen reportedly isn't in Doomsday, but I'm not sure that necessarily means anything about

Another reason I think we can hopefully trust Tom Holland here is because he's become so known for blabbing about details that others may have kept closer to the vest. And him shutting down rumors about a character's appearance is a more forgivable spoiler than if he'd come out and said exactly who Sink is playing. It's like Marvel producers gave him an olive branch by allowing him to say this one thing.

But maybe he IS lying, or is being controlled by the real Jean Grey to tell fans what she wants us to hear. Check out the interview clip below and see whether or not you think Tom Holland could be fibbing it up for the sake of the mystery.

Whether or not his scout's honor is authentic or not, fans will know for sure who Sink is playing when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swoops and whooshes through theaters on July 31, 2026

There are more than a few secrets swirling (or swinging?) around Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but the biggest mystery involves Sadie Sink. Neither Marvel Studios nor Sink herself have yet to divulge the identity of her character, and speculation has been running rampant. Even though the powers that be still aren’t willing to share details, it seems the marketing team has reached the point where it’s having some fun with the situation. That’s right, Sink and the Spidey team are now trolling fans, and it’s honestly making me laugh.

When it comes to getting the general public prepared for a new movie, especially one as big as Spider-Man, a marketing team has to find interesting ways to build hype and curiosity. One of the ways in which the marketers at Sony did that was by sharing a cheeky video of Sink on Instagram and, in it, she confirms to have seen the various theories about her character. She then proceeds to give the public three “exclusive confirmed” answers. However, her comments likely aren’t what devotees are looking for:

Sink’s last answer is, of course, a particularly sharp jab, given how obvious it is. And Sony’s marketing team wasn’t done playing on the Sink situation, either. Another video posted to IG plays on the matter as well, though it does so in a very different and self-aware way. The clip shows the Stranger Things alum sitting down to the chorus of tense orchestral music, with the caption noting that she’s preparing to film a documentary on how she managed to keep her role a secret. Take a look:

Marvel Studios does indeed like to toy with fans now and then, so these Spider-Man promotional videos definitely track. Of course, these kinds of clips may not work for everyone, but I can appreciate such advertising. What it seems to show is that the marketing team has its finger on the pulse of the fandom and simply wants to have some fun with them in a creative way. And, at this point, the clips seem to have gained quite a bit of traction. The “answers” video has over 770,000 likes, while the faux doc clip has over 301,000.

These materials aside, though, I’m truly amazed at how Sadie Sink has been able to keep her character a secret since she was cast in Brand New Day back in March 2025. Of course, that’s not to say it’s been easy for the actress to hold everything in. Sink previously discussed the struggle of not being able to openly discuss her role, joking that the situation “torture.” Nevertheless, she’s proven to be a pro at keeping “secrets,” and her occasional spoiler-dropper of a co-star, Tom Holland, may want to take some notes.

Although Sink’s character hasn’t officially been announced, fans have long had theories, which even pre-dated her casting. The most common rumor is that the O'Dessa star is playing the powerful Jean Grey, a member of the X-Men. Plenty of fans seem to be high on that idea and, at this point, fan art of Sink as Grey has even made the rounds. It would be huge if the A-lister were definitely playing Grey, and her introduction could have massive ramifications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward.

It won’t be too much longer before we have a definitive answer regarding this Brand New Day character, but the wait is getting somewhat difficult for me amid this final stretch. At this point, I’d be surprised if Sink weren’t playing Jean, but MCU fans like myself have been surprised before. For now, though, I would expect Sadie Sink and the marketing team to keep us guessing about the nature of her role and find funny ways to do so.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. Fans can prepare for this latest installment in Tom Holland’s Spidey series by streaming the first three films with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for nearly two decades and is a well-oiled machine at this point. Fans are consistently treated to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie heading to theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with fans still in the dark about who Sadie Sink is playing. And Tom Holland's comments about her performance are making the wait even worse.

Sink was noticeably missing from the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer, but that hasn't stopped the discourse from swirling around her role. During an interview with Collider, Holland complimented how great the Stranger Things star is in the blockbuster, offering:

As if I wasn't already invested in finding out who Sink is playing. It sounds like she really gets her chance to shine in Brand New Day's third act, and might even steal the whole movie. Considering how much time and work Tom Holland put into playing the title role, his comments are especially noteworthy. And I need this movie to arrive in theaters yesterday.

So who exactly will Sadie Sink be playing in Destin Daniel Cretton's forthcoming Spider-Man sequel? It's currently unclear, but the most popular fan choice is Jean Grey. Since the X-Men are finally joining the MCU, folks think that the new cast might be slowly introduced, starting with Jean.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been waiting for the X-Men to join the shared universe, and Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opened the door for this to happen. But while the OG stars of the X-Men movies will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, a new cast of mutants will be assembled for Jake Schreier's developing X-Men movie.

We'll just have to see if Sadie Sink is actually playing Jean Grey, or if she ends up being one of the other rumored characters. Other names being tossed around online include Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole, a variant of Mary Jane Watson, Teresa Parker or even a variant of Wanda Maximoff.

Our answers will come when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. There are just a few weeks left, so we'll have to see if the studio can keep the movie's secrets under wraps until then. Thank goodness answers are finally coming later this month. Producer Amy Pascal has talked the importance of the movie's secrecy, and so far it's been largely spoiler-free.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its tight security, as the universe grows thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While the actors in the franchise are tasked with guarding its secrets, certain celebs like Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo are known for accidentally spoiling things. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is joining the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and she's having a much easier time guarding spoilers than Holland.

When Sadie Sink was confirmed for the new Spider-Man movie, theories and rumors started swirling about who she might play. Despite how many months have passed, fans still don't know who she'll be in the upcoming Marvel movie. During a recent interview with Nylon, she joked about how to guard spoilers, saying:

Sometimes it's just that simple. Of course, Sink has lots of experience with this unique part of the job. She had to keep lots of secrets during her tenure on Stranger Things (streaming with a Netflix subscription), especially ahead of its fifth and final season. Stranger Things 4 ended with Max in a coma, and the Tony-nominated actress had to do press while not revealing what was going to happen to the beloved character. Now she's keeping mum about her mysterious role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will remember that Tom Holland has a bad track record with accidentally revealing spoilers. While Sink poked un at him in the above comment, later in the same interview she gushed about working with the Uncharted actor. In her words:

Brand New Day is Tom Holland's fourth solo movie as Spider-Man, and his seventh overall appearance in the MCU. So his sense of ease around set makes a great deal of sense. Still, it's heartening to hear how comfortable he made Sadie Sink as she joined the massive shared universe. Now we just need to hear who she is playing already!

Luckily our wait for answers is nearly over. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. It's crunch time, so we'll have to see if any spoilers end up trickling out over the next few weeks.

Since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got together, we’ve seen them walking into restaurants for dates and out and about on numerous occasions. It’s not very often, though, that they attend a public event for a date night. Of course it’s happened, but it’s rare. However, they did just do it again as they attended a play led by a Stranger Things star who has also collaborated with the pop star.

At the moment, Swift and Kelce are in London, and they were spotted out and about on a date night. After going to dinner at Gymkhana, per TMZ, they were seen by many people at the West End production of Romeo and Juliet. Fans, like @theTSupdates, caught the couple giving the cast, which is led by Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe, a standing ovation, while other clips showed them sitting in the mezzanine of the theater.

This production of Romeo and Juliet is notable because Sink is a certified star of stage and screen, having just come off the final season of Stranger Things (which you can stream with a Netflix subscription) and a successful run on Broadway with the play John Proctor is the Villain. She plays Juliet in this version of Shakespeare’s play, while Noah Jupe (who you might recognize as Hamlet in Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Hamnet) plays Romeo.

While that information alone sells the play plenty, I assume Swift’s connection to Sink could have also motivated her to visit the West End.

Memorably, the Stranger Things star led the short film for Swift’s ten-minute version of “All Too Well” that was released on Red (Taylor’s Version). She starred in the project alongside Dylan O’Brien, and then Swift showed up at the very end as the older version of the character Sink was playing. Overall, both the song and the music video are considered Swift’s best by many, and to this day, people talk about it and Sink’s performance.

Now, going back to this date night, this is one of a few occasions where we’ve seen Swift and Kelce at a very public event together. Of course, she attends his games, and he went to the Eras Tour. However, we only occasionally see them together at things like a sporting event, Coachella (two years ago) or an SNL taping.

Overall, they keep their private lives pretty private, and we get a glimpse of it every once in a while, as we did here. And I think this was a great time to make an appearance too, because it was lovely to see Swift and Kelce supporting Saide Sink and the company of Romeo and Juliet.

They aren’t the only high-profile co-stars of Sink’s to support this play, though. A few weeks ago, Tom Holland and Zendaya went, which was very fun to see, considering Sink is joining them in the cast of the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

So, it would appear that this is a hot ticket for couples who have worked with Sadie Sink, and I love that for them and her.

Now, if you’d like to see her in this play that’s served as a date night for Swift, Kelce, Holland and Zendaya, you can catch it on the West End now. If you can’t, make sure you see what Sink has coming out next when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31. And if you are just looking for a great Taylor Swift song and a wonderful performance from Sink, check out the “All Too Well” short film.

Sadie Sink has been at the center of some major superhero movie-related speculation as of late. It’s officially known that the fan-favorite actress has a role in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but details on her character are being kept under web and key. The chatter doesn’t seem to be simmering down either, as the Spidey flick’s release date approaches amid the 2026 movie schedule. As Sink continues to face those rumors, though, co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya are showing support in a different respect.

How Did Tom Holland And Zendaya Show Support For Spider-Man Co-Star Sadie Sink?

Over the course of her career, Sink has, of course, amassed plenty of screen credits, with her role as Max Mayfield on Stranger Things essentially serving as her career breakthrough. Sink, however, has also been stage acting for years, and she’s most recently been headlining the latest revival of Romeo and Juliet in London’s West End alongside Noah Jupe. This past week, Sink had some excellent visitors show up, as Tom Holland and Zendaya were present at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Video of Holland and Zendaya’s appearance at the show was captured on video by a fan and shared to X. The footage has since gone viral, and many seem to love the fact that the couple decided to check out their co-star’s stage play. Of course, Zendaya and Holland haven’t actually spoken out about why they attended the production. However, it feels like a given that they intentionally went as a show of support for Sink, which is a notion I love.

The cast of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies have seemed genuinely close throughout the duration of the franchise. Obviously, Holland and Zendaya are engaged (or married?), but Jacob Batalon, Angourie Rice and other franchise alums have also seemed quite chummy. It’s definitely fun to see the likes of Peter Parker, Michelle Jones and Need Leeds chopping it up on camera, but it’s even cooler to see the actors interact and support each other off camera.

What I can’t help but wonder, however, is whether any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe veterans have reached out to Sink in regard to handling spoilers. (Holland, in particular, is known for spoiling scenes.) Regardless of that, it feels like Sink is going to have to keep dodging questions for a few more months.

What’s Being Said About Sadie Sink’s Brand New Day Role?

Next to nothing is known about Sink’s character in Brand New Day, but rumors point to her playing a particularly powerful character within Marvel lore. It’s been alleged that Sink is playing Jean Grey, who’s one of the key members of the X-Men. That speculation has gotten so strong that we’ve gotten to the point where fan art of Sink as Grey now exists. (And I’d be lying if I said some of the illustrations weren’t solid.)

Still, Sink has been doing a fine job of not spilling any “Spider-Man” secrets, and that’s understandable, considering she spent years keeping her lip zipped when it came to Stranger Things intel. Despite her ability not to give anything away, though, Sink also admitted that not talking about her MCU debut was “torture.” At the very least, she’s almost reached the finish line.

I’m looking forward to seeing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens in theaters on July 31. However, I’m also eager to see the upcoming press tour, which could yield some fun moments involving Sadie Sink, Zendaya and Tom Holland. I’d even love to see a great moment in which Zendaya and Holland talk up Sink’s (already-praised) performance.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for consistently treating fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie hitting theaters is Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will feature Sadie Sink in a mysterious role. The biggest rumor is that the Stranger Things star is playing Jean Grey, and some fan art has imagined what she could look like in that role.

Not much is know about Brand New Day, but fans are hyped to finally watch up with Tom Hollands' hero after No Way Home's cliffhanger ending. Sadie Sink was noticeably missing from the Spider-Man 4 trailer, leading to even more discussion about her role. Fans still think that the footage might have hinted at her role as Jean, and now can see what she'd look like as the beloved X-Man. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? Rather than being in a black suit like the X-Men movies, this image show what Sadie Sink could look like in a more comic-accurate green and yellow suit. While there's still no confirmation that she's playing the beloved mutant, it's hard to deny that she'd be able to pull off the look itself.

Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been not-so-patiently waiting for the X-Men to finally join the fun. Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox opened the doors for this to finally happen, but there hasn't been a ton of forward movement about a new X-Men film. Instead characters have been slowly popping up, and moviegoers would likely freak out if/when Sink is confirmed as Jean Grey.

Of course, it's still more than possible that Sadie Sink will end up playing a different character in Brand New Day. Some other names that have swirled around online, including Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole, a variant of Mary Jane Watson, or Teresa Parker. Only time will tell, but considering how Stranger Things has officially wrapped up for good, it seems like a great time to get Sadie Sink in the MCU with a multi-picture deal. Fingers crossed we get some information sooner rather than later.

Marvel security is notoriously tight, but with the next Spider-Man movie arriving in theaters in just a few months, we should be getting more footage sooner rather than later. We'll just have to wait and see if Sink's role is eventually revealed, or if we'll have to wait until its release.

Our answers will come when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we don't have to wait until then to find out who Sadie Sink is playing in the MCU.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever growing place, thanks to the studio releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Destin Daniel Cetton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is hitting theaters this summer. One of the biggest mysteries about that blockbuster is who Sadie Sink might be playing, and a Marvel scooper recently made a bold claim about the answer to this question. And it's exactly who I was hoping to see the Stranger Things alum as.

Details about the fourth Spider-Man movie have been limited thanks to Marvel's tight security, although the trailer for Brand New Day teased some of what to expect. Sink was noticeably missing from that debut footage, but scooper Jeff Sneider recently appeared on The Hot Mic and claimed:

Do you hear that sound? It's X-Men fans out there collectively cheering. While Sadie Sink's role hasn't been officially announced by Sony or Marvel, the idea of her playing Jean Grey in the next Spider-Man movie is thrilling. We'll just have to wait and see if this ends up getting confirmed ahead of the movie's release.

Obviously we should take this report with a grain of salt for the time being, but Sneider is known for being pretty reliable when it comes to Marvel news. And with mutants becoming more important to the shared universe, it makes a great deal of sense.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall that the X-Men were noticeably missing throughout the first few phases of the shared universe. Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox opened the door for mutants to join the fun, and they've been slowly popping up in projects like Doctor Strange 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. And while the OG stars of the X-Men movies will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, fans are expecting a new group of actors to be the primary team. Jeff Sneider addressed this, saying:

When Sink was revealed to be part of the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jean Grey was probably the most popular fan choice for who she might be playing. But a few other names have been tossed around as well, including Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole, a variant of Mary Jane Watson, or even Teresa Parker. Still, Jean is the most popular choice, and I think she'd be great as the telekinetic/telepathic hero.

For her part, Sink has said keeping this secret is "torture" so she's probably hoping that Marvel revealed her role sooner rather than later. Unfortunately this didn't happen with the first trailer, but perhaps with Sneider making this claim so boldly on the internet we'll get an official announcement. Fingers crossed.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Let's just hope that we get more information about Sadie Sink's role in the near future.

Stranger Things 5 may have ended a month ago, marking the official end of the fan-favorite Netflix hit, but the series is still being talked about. The streamer released a new documentary centering on the final season, and Finn Wolfhard even spoofed the series and what could come next while hosting Saturday Night Live on the 2026 TV schedule. Additionally, new information is still being shared about the show, and Sadie Sink revealed the tea about learning how to skateboard.

Sink joined Stranger Things as Max Mayfield in Season 2, effectively skateboarding into the hearts of not only the characters but the audience. While music was able to get Max out of the Upside Down more than once, skateboarding seems to be her passion… but it's not Sink’s. In an Instagram video posted by the Stranger Things account, the actress spilled the tea on what it was like learning how to skateboard for the role, and it’s not what you’d think:

Having to not only deal with learning lines and a complex way of doing school, but spending a full three hours every day for who knows how many days learning to skateboard is pretty intense. It also makes sense that she was scared of getting hurt, even with all of the protection she had. Plus, skating around the studio sounds extra challenging.

If anything, it can be assumed that Sink probably didn't have to do all her skating because it's possible that a stunt double could have done the riding for her. It’s unknown how much skateboarding she actually did, but having to learn for three hours every single day means that she definitely did it a lot. At the very least, the skating turned out pretty great, and she seemed to be a natural on screen.

Now that Stranger Things is done, would Sink ever get back on the board? She admitted it would “depend,” but she also said that she would “not willingly” do it. Even though wrapping the series was as emotional as ever, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sink was happy to be done with the skateboarding, specifically. Whether or not she’ll take on another role that requires her to skateboard is unknown, but at least for the time being, she is putting that part of her life in the rearview mirror.

Since it seems unlikely that Sadie Sink will skateboard again on screen, fans can always see her skills by watching Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription. It’s still hard to believe that the show has ended, but the Max actress doesn’t seem too heartbroken about not being forced to skateboard anymore.

We are now firmly ensconced in the early days of the 2026 movie schedule, and while there are sure to be some surprises, there is already plenty that we know of to be very excited about. Some of that revolves around upcoming superhero movies, with one of the highly anticipated titles being the uber-secretive new Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink has a part in the movie, and she’s opened up about the “torture” of not being able to reveal anything about it.

What Did Sadie Sink Say About Keeping Spider-Man: Brand New Day Secrets?

One could say that there are lots of things that go hand in hand with most of the Marvel movies in order, especially as several of the entries share cast members, directors, and other behind-the-scenes talent, but one thing that is always certain about the films is that they are incredibly secretive. Generally, those secrets involve the plot (which is standard for most movies), but sometimes it goes much deeper.

This is the case with Sadie Sink and her part in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That she’d be starring in the film was made public less than a year ago, and ever since there have been rumors aplenty about her role, as it hasn’t been announced yet, even with the Tom Holland-starrer having finished filming in December. During an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Whale star was asked about keeping so much about the movie quiet, and she said:

Well, at the very least we can say that the Fear Street talent doesn’t seem to be too tortured by keeping the answers to Marvel mysteries to herself (something that her Brand New Day co-star, Holland, has historically not been great at). Sink actually went viral for an interview she did just a couple of months ago, where she skillfully dodged a question about her character.

Because we are dealing in the Marvel multiverse, however, there are tons of people she could be playing, so fans have been working overtime to figure it out. This has led to theories that range from a new version of MJ (which pissed off numerous Zendaya fans), to the X-Men’s Jean Grey, and The Punisher’s ex-partner to May “Mayday” Parker. All in all, though, Sink did note that she hasn’t exactly told zero people, while also admitting that the public's relatively informed speculation isn’t necessarily all for naught:

OK, guys. I know this is a wild idea, but what if that was a hint from Sink? Now, I won’t be shocked if we get to the film’s premiere and see that she’s actually somehow playing every character that’s been speculated about.

SPOILERS are ahead for the Stranger Things series finale, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not getting over the beautiful finale of Stranger Things, which was among streaming options over New Year’s Eve, anytime soon. After everything these Hawkins kids went through across nearly a decade of television, it was very satisfying to see them graduate from Hawkins High (aside from Eleven, whose fate was left ambiguous by the creators) and play one more game of Dungeons & Dragons together in Mike’s basement before starting their adult lives. However, there are two members of the gang who have somewhat unbelievable fates now that I think about it.

One Detail In Dustin’s Hawkins High History Puts A Dent In His Valedictorian Status

Dustin Henderson having the honor of delivering the valedictorian speech to the class of 1989 was special, and it isn’t surprising in and of itself considering how smart the character is, and how he turned out to be the one to figure out how the Upside Down works. However, remember when Dustin’s GF Suzie straight-up changed his Latin grade manually? If the administration knew about that, he probably wouldn’t have been elected to the position, and may have even had to skip out on graduation!

On Twitter user also dug up a screenshot of Dustin’s grades from that scene, and he also had three B’s (along with three A’s) that semester of school. Those are good grades, but not exactly enough to make him the No. 1 in the entire school, right? Then again, the whole town was going through some crazy things with the Upside Down being open, so maybe Dustin just tracked better than everyone else? Or, they found out he practically saved the world and gave him the honor for it. Either way, he’s the perfect choice for what happened during the speech.

However, he’s not the only Stranger Things character we’re questioning in the graduation scene, either.

And, How The Heck Did Max Graduate On Time?

Then there’s the subject of Max graduating on time. You know, the character who was literally in a coma for nearly two years? How the heck did she catch up and graduate on time? It’s definitely possible if she worked her butt off, and hey, maybe she did so she could get out of Hawkins with her classmates after “Running Up That Hill” from Vecna. As one fan hilariously wrote:

Sadie Sink recently talked about how school worked on the Stranger Things set, and it definitely wasn’t your typical hours for a high schooler, so perhaps the creators thought it could happen for Max? However, if we're judging based on the average high school experience, I have a hard time believing she would have walked with her friends.

This wasn't your average high school experience, though. And obviously, these are technicalities we're discussing here. Overall, I loved seeing them all get to graduate, regardless of it not completely making sense.

During the early seasons of Stranger Things, while Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Eleven and Max were saving Hawkins, the actors who play them were also going to school. Now, with the fifth and final season of Stranger Things out on the 2025 TV schedule, Sadie Sink has explained exactly how they got their education while filming the Netflix megahit, and it makes my brain hurt.

So, Sadie Sink was asked who her favorite teacher was during an interview with Glamour, and that’s how this explanation began. First, she answered the question at hand, noting that her favorite was Marina Papathanasiou, and she was the on-set teacher for Stranger Things. Then, the actress, who was 14 when she started playing Max, dove into the logistics of exactly how school worked while they were working, saying:

Do you remember those story problems in math class? That’s kind of what this feels like. I know that child actors have to go to school while they film their projects (I mean, HBO’s Harry Potter show built a school for their young stars). However, I’ve never thought about how they get their hours in.

I also never thought about this bank that the Stranger Things cast had. It’s giving “solve for x” as the kids had to keep track of their hours and make sure their bases were covered as they figured out how much work they could do. To that point, Sink broke down how the bank system works further, explaining:

This does make sense. On any set, actors typically don’t have consistent hours. Some days, they’re not needed; others, they are in some scenes but not all; and sometimes, they are required for every shot. So, when it comes to fitting school into all this, I get that those three hours cannot be guaranteed every day, and flexibility is necessary.

However, when you mix keeping track of hours in with homework, memorizing lines, shooting intense scenes, and just generally being a kid and probably not wanting to go to school, it sounds really hard. Sink noted that it is too, explaining:

That certainly is a big ask for a kid; however, it sounds like Stranger Things handled it well. I mean, Sadie Sink literally said her favorite teacher was the on-set educator for the show. So, I’d say that’s pretty high praise.

However, thankfully, the young stars of this series don’t have to worry about all that anymore if they don’t want to. They’re all adults, with Sink specifically being 23, and these days, they don’t have to go to school and act at the same time (except for Noah Schnapp, who is about to graduate from college, per THR).

Overall, this whole process makes my brain hurt, and it makes the triumph that is Stranger Things even more impressive. That’s because while they were making this sci-fi show, they were also juggling school schedules, and that’s no easy task.

Now, to see how all this hard work paid off, you can watch the stellar young cast in the final season of Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription.

Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5, Vols. 1 and 2 lie ahead.

In just a matter of days, fans will bid farewell to Stranger Things, as the show wraps up its five-season run at the tail end of the 2025 TV schedule. The experience is a bit different for the hit show’s cast and crew, though, as they already said goodbye when they wrapped production over a year ago. As the series finale draws closer, the stars are now sharing more insight into what it was like to finish filming. On that note, Sadie Sink shared insight into what her mindset was like on her last day and in the lead-up to it.

Sadie Sink joined the cast of ST ahead of the show’s second season, and she’s since become a fan-favorite due to her role as Max Mayfield. Considering Sink has been affiliated with the show for so long, it’s easy to imagine that she’d have a ton of feelings upon wrapping for the final time. The actress conveyed such sentiments when she spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend for its latest issue. Sink spoke to us about the final table read, and her comments suggest it was a truly visceral experience for her and her colleagues:

Honestly, that last bit of Sink’s story feels like a true gut punch of a moment. Of course, at that point, she’d still yet to actually film her final scenes as Max. Later on in the interview, the Fear Street star recalled that “last day,” and she explained why that occasion was “weird” more than anything else:

Like a number of her co-stars, Sadie Sink posted about wrapping Stranger Things back in December 2024. At that time, she shared a carousel of BTS photos of her and the cast that were taken over the years, and she expressed gratitude for her experiences. Sink also mentioned earlier this year that she snagged a lot of props from the set. Aside from taking some Vans and a few Kate Bush cassettes (because, of course), she was also gifted Max’s skateboard. So, all in all, it sounds like Sink is appreciative of how she was able to close the book on this chapter of her life and career.

Now, fans are waiting to see how Max’s story ends on the show. Season 5 began with Max still comatose following Season 4. It was eventually revealed that her consciousness was trapped in Vecna’s mind and, with help from Holly Wheeler, she managed to escape “Camazotz” and regain consciousness in the real world. The show’s penultimate episode ends with the Hawkins crew gearing up for one last battle with Vecna, and Max is set to guide Eleven and Kali (who are planning to sacrifice themselves) through Vecna’s mind.

It’s hard to say what lies ahead for Max and the other characters, and there’s a chance some of them might not make it out of this final battle alive. Should that happen, I’d imagine fans’ tears will be flowing like the ones Sadie Sink and co. shed during that final read-through. Discover Max’s fate by using a Netflix subscription to stream the Stranger Things series finale, which debuts on December 31.

Sadie Sink has already garnered plenty of attention for her role on Stranger Things, but she’s now entering an even larger franchise: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The fan-favorite actress has been cast in a still-unknown role in the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With that, Sink once again finds herself holding onto some big secrets related to one of her projects. However, she has a sweet take on holding that information in, and her co-star, Tom Holland, may want to take a cue or two from her.

The past few years have seen Sadie Sink’s profile rise even beyond that of the hit Netflix show that she’s starred on for nearly a decade. To say that a Spidey movie is a major feather in her cap would be an understatement. Sink recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about being tapped for the upcoming Marvel movie, and her enthusiasm is getting me hyped. Based on her comments, it sounds like she’s quite the fan:

Sink previously worked with Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton, who also helmed Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, on 2017’s The Glass Castle. I love the fact that the pair had the opportunity to work together again (and on a very different kind of movie at that). It’s also lovely when actors get to join franchises they’ve long loved and, considering Sink’s casting and the fact that she gets to star alongside Tom Holland, she’s truly living a fans’ dream.

Also, on the topic of Tom Holland, what isn’t a secret is the fact that he’s long had a tendency to (inadvertently) drop spoilers. Those faux pas have caused the British actor to go viral on multiple occasions over the years. Sadie Sink doesn’t seem to have had a problem with holding onto confidential MCU information, though. In fact, fans have praised Sink for avoiding spoiler talk since her Brand New Day casting. The Whale actress’ ability to keep secrets was also evident when she continued chatting with THR:

God bless the A-list star who can talk about a major project without spilling any kind of beans. Make no mistake, Tom Holland is definitely a beloved star, but it’s hard not to playfully poke fun at him for the instances in which he shared more than he should have. With that said, Holland does deserve credit, as he’s been tight-lipped about Brand New Day, which wrapped filming earlier this month.

All the while, speculation continues to swirl around Sadie Sink’s role, as she’s been linked to a number of characters. One report alleged that she was playing one of the Punisher’s sidekicks, Rachel Cole-Alves, while another wild rumor claimed she’d portray May “Mayday” Parker, Peter’s teenage daughter from another dimension. Whatever the truth is, though, fans probably shouldn’t expect to hear it from Sink until Marvel gives the official go-ahead.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

Stranger Things' final season is finally premiering amid the 2025 TV schedule, but that's not the most biggest development in Millie Bobby Brown's life as of late. She and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, adopted a child and, while she's long dreamed of being a young mother, there are occasional times when parents need a break. That said, which of the Stranger Things cast members would she trust to watch her kid?

Brown was humorously put on the spot by ET during the Stranger Things Season 5 red carpet premiere, where the cast and crew celebrated the show's final season. Let's say the Eleven actress wants to go out with her hubby or spend a quiet night at home to watch the opening episodes with a Netflix subscription this month. Who would she call to look after her kiddo? Here's what she had to say about her co-stars:

Sadie Sink and Noah Schnapp were name-checked quickly but, ultimately, Millie Bobby Brown gave a thumbs-up to all her co-stars and said they're all warm to her little daughter. The mere thought of some cast members -- like Gaten Matarazzo or Caleb McLaughlin gushing over Brown's baby girl is just too adorable. Honestly, it's good to know the Stranger Things cast gets a green flag in terms of babysitting.

I also can't help but note the actress referring to her castmates as "gooey," because that's such a wild way to describe anyone. It's more of a descriptor I'd save for a fresh chocolate chip cookie. However, I guess that's just the best way to sum up how Finn Wolfhard or others are around Brown's child.

While Millie Bobby Brown is juggling being a new mom in real life, Stranger Things' Eleven is preparing for the fight of her life against Vecna and all other creatures lurking in the Upside Down. It's clear from the Season 5 trailer that she's put in some work to upgrade her telekinetic abilities, with the Duffer brothers likening it to the powers Jedi have in Star Wars.

The end of the journey seems to be exciting for Brown, who admitted in another interview that playing Eleven for so long was driving her insane during the filming of the final season. I'd imagine that many of her co-stars can relate to that, given the series has been airing for a decade. For some of these younger stars, that's like half of their lives. Considering that, it's surreal to think that Brown has become a married woman and mother since the show began. Still, it's been sweet to see her and her co-stars grow up and reach the point that babysitting options for one of their kids is now a valid piece of discussion.

The first volume of Stranger Things Season 5 premieres on November 26th. Volume II is set to arrive on Christmas Day, while the series finale debuts on December 31.

Sci-fi horror fans with a Netflix subscription have been waiting for a long time for something very important, but the time is nearly nigh for it to commence, and that is the 2025 TV schedule debut of Stranger Things Season 5. Viewers already have a lot of mixed feelings about the final season, especially since series creators Matt and Ross Duffer fully expect audiences to cry during the two-hour finale. However, there is still a lot of excitement surrounding the last set of episodes, particularly from the cast, and now that stars like Jamie Campbell Bower and Sadie Sink have revealed some souvenirs they took from the set, I honestly think Sink got the best one.

What Did Jamie Campbell Bower And Sadie Sink Say About The Stranger Things Set Souvenirs They Took?

The fifth season of Stranger Things will deliver the absolute end to the Hawkins crew’s story for Eleven, Max, Lucas, Dustin, Mike, Will and all of their friends and family. Obviously, this is a major deal, and stars like Finn Wolfhard have really been hyping up the finale (which will actually run in theaters for a short time) while also looking back on their time working on the hit that made them famous.

It was recently that several members of the cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke, sat down to do a rewatch of some important moments from the series to reflect on filming one of the most bingeable Netflix shows. As Sadie Sink and Jamie Campbell Bower watched scenes with Max and the ever evil Vecna (who’ll have a massive moment with Will in Season 5) in a clip that was posted to Instagram, they got into a conversation about taking things from set after Sink asked if Campbell Bower ever misses wearing his creepy Vecna hand. He responded:

Alright, that is a slightly wild souvenir to take, right? No matter where he keeps it in his house, there’s just a weird, bony, burnt up claw hand lurking amongst his dishes, books, towels and various other completely normal household goods. Plus, I actually think that the fact that it’s floppy might be worse.

Sink then made her own admission, and man, is it ever a doozy, particularly when we think about the massive events of Stranger Things Season 4 and everything that Max went through:

WHAT?!?! OK, I know that everyone has started singing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” which played an iconic part in Max’s story during the fourth season, but prepare yourselves, because it gets even better. Her co-star inquired about whether or not the music player actually worked and (GASP!) if she had the tape in it, and she said:

Lordy! This has to be one of the reasons that Sink, who was already an amazing member of the cast, was really able to step up her game in Max’s big season. She was listening to her character’s real-world tether song during her downtime on the set, and now has that all important item as what I think is the coolest ST set souvenir to remember her gig on the series.

In a new interview, Sadie Sink proved she knows exactly how to handle a spoiler minefield. During the premiere for Stranger Things Season 5, the rising star was asked to describe her character in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day in just one word — a classic setup for a reveal. But instead of taking the bait, Sink grinned and swerved, responding with a deadpan that has fans thinking she’s definitely learned from Tom Holland's spoilery mistakes.

The quick clip, now circulating widely thanks to Entertainment Tonight’s YouTube channel, has sparked a wave of admiration and jokes across social media. Fans instantly picked up on Sink’s smooth, spoiler-proof response and couldn’t help but compare her savvy handling to the now-iconic history of Tom Holland’s Marvel slip-ups. Where Holland famously spilled more than a few plot secrets over the years, Sink kept it locked down, and fans are loving her for it. When asked to describe her character in one word, she responded:

When pressed, the Fear Street actress was not pressured into revealing anything. She continued:

How about that? It's clear Sink has masterfully dodged the question, revealing nothing about her rumor-making Spider-Man character, something the web-head fans found both hilarious and impressive. Her response is strikingly different from the franchise’s most notorious spoiler-leaker, and that is, of course, Tom Holland. So, what are fans saying about Sink’s perfect response?

How Fans Are Responding To Sadie Sink’s Answer

Folks over on X (formerly Twitter) were definitely impressed, and a little amused, by the Whale stars' expert response. Here are some of the best and funniest fan reactions to Sink’s spoiler-evasion skills:

• @mvlsraff: “Most obvious Uncle Ben casting.”
• @Drum2dbeatz: “She knows Marvel got that sniper ready for her lol.”
• @moonzoey_zuu: “The way she said NO to any spoilers 😭 The DIVA she is omg 😭😭.”
• @ms_lost: “THIS DIVA IS UNBOTHERED💅❤️😭”
• @modernselfgth: “She said more with that 'No' than a full press conference ever could 💀”
• @LE_BANDO: “If you listen carefully you can hear Feige disassembling his rifle.”

Fans are obviously having a blast with Sink’s evasive maneuver. While some are dissecting her every word for clues, others are just enjoying the way she effortlessly sidestepped spoiling her character's mystique while keeping her cool.

What Sink Could Have Learned From Tom Holland

It’s no secret that Tom Holland’s time as Spider-Man has been marked by charming enthusiasm and a tendency to accidentally reveal major plot points in interviews. From leaking the Infinity War poster to prematurely announcing Spider-Man: Far From Home, Holland’s spoiler history is legendary.

So when Sadie Sink, the newest star to join the Spider-Man universe, shuts down a spoiler trap with a calm smile and zero info, fans immediately made the connection. One commenter put it best: “I just know if Tom Holland was in Sadie’s shoes, he wouldn’t shut up😭😭😭.” Yeah, I think that just about sums it up.

I also think it's worth noting that she's worked on Stranger Things for years, another project that is shrouded in secrecy. So, she's no newbie when it comes to keeping a project's secrets; in fact, I'd say she's a seasoned veteran at this point.

Whether or not that’s true when it comes to Tom Holland, one thing is certain: Sink knows how to keep a secret. And with Brand New Day still under tight wraps, Marvel fans will have to wait a little longer to learn exactly who she’s playing and how her character fits into the web of the Spider-Verse.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding with new projects, released in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and there are countless questions about what director Daniel Destin Cretton has up his sleeve. Sadie Sink's mysterious role is one of these mysteries, and fan art imagined what she might look like as a wall crawler in the blockbuster. And now I really hope it comes true.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is very limited, and fans are filling in the blanks with rumors and theories. A number of fan theories have swirled about who she might be playing, including popular choices like Jean Grey and Mary Jane Watson. Now some cool fan art from Instagram imagined how she'd look as Mayday Parker, check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? While this photo is AI-generated, it shows how epic Sink might look like as a web slinger in the MCU. It remains to be seen if this ends up coming to fruition, especially considering Mayday's history in the comics. But hey, a nerd can dream.

For those unfamiliar, Mayday Parker is the son of Peter and Mary Jane in the comics. She recently appeared as an infant in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but hasn't been adapted into live-action yet. And Sink looks cool AF in this big of fan art.

Obviously bringing in Mayday would be a huge twist in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as Tom Holland's Peter Parker is not a parent in the MCU. But with the multiverse in play, it feels like just about anything could happen. Maybe she comes from an alternate universe; there's already been precedent for this when the three Peter Parkers united in No Way Home.

As previously mentioned, Mayday is just one of a list of characters that fans think Sadie Sink might be playing in the next Spider-Man movie. Her red hair immediately set off theories about Jean Grey, especially since the X-Men are expected to factor heavily into future installments of the shared universe. Mary Jane Watson is also on that list, as the traditional character hasn't been seen in the MCU in favor of Zendaya's Michelle Jones. Another name swirling around is Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole-Alves. That theory was obviously inspired by the fact that Jon Bernthal will have a role as that hero in Brand New Day.

The constant supply of rumors and theories shows how much fans are invested in the next Spider-Man movie... even if we don't know much about what it'll contain. But Tom Holland is a fan favorite character, and the fact that he'll be joined by Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, and Sadie Sink is very exciting.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get more legit information about the Stranger Things star's role sooner rather than later.

Production on Tom Holland’s fourth Spider-Man movie is still underway. Thanks to some behind the scenes leaked images, Sadie Sink (who was previously cast in a mysterious role) has finally been spotted on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day set. With the star's spotting, fans are still debating who she’ll play in the highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie, and needless to say, there are no shortage of possibilities.

The Daily Mail shared some behind the scenes images that show Holland performing some intense stunts. But what is particularly interesting is for the first time, the Stranger Things star was spotted on set, wrapped in a beige hoodie and khaki coat as she chatted away with crew. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order quickly zeroed in on the combat boots and camo pants, which apparently got the fan-casting wheels turning overtime about who she could be portraying in the new superhero film.

So what is the going theory on who the popular actress could be playing? From a long lost Parker to a beloved Mutant, there is a ton of speculation. Let's break it down.

Who The Internet Thinks Sadie Sink Is Playing

Because of Sadie Sink’s signature red hair, fans immediately began speculating that she could be playing one of Marvel’s many iconic redheads. Until recently, it wasn’t even clear whether she’d keep her fiery locks for the film, but the new set photos have officially confirmed that she will. Naturally, that confirmation sent Marvel fans into overdrive, tossing out every possible character from the House of Ideas who shares the same hair color.

The Marvel fan account @Jamesons on X (formerly Twitter) shared the new photos, suggesting that the American Odyssey actress might be portraying Rachel Cole, the Punisher’s ex-partner, noting the tactical outfit, the long coat (possibly concealing a skull emblem), and of course, the matching red hair. While this rumor supports previous reports of Frank getting a female sidekick, this theory only fueled more speculation, as fans quickly chimed in with their own takes:

• “Sadie is too big for a Marvel Z-tier character. To me, it's almost certain that she's the Jean… there have been rumors about her forever. If she's not, it's a waste of casting.” – @EuRubs
• “Rachel Cole theoretically already appeared in the Second Season of the Punisher series, that girl he ends up taking care of.” – @UltraTheus3114
• “it makes absolutely no sense to cast a 20-year-old actress to play a widowed woman in her 30s, and besides, it's already more than obvious that she'll have super powers.” – @blackxpeace
• “We wanted jean Grey.” – @EdsonPelegrino
• “Man, I like that idea. Better than being just another love interest for Peter; plus, it's an evolution for Castle's character. You can already tell that the plot won't involve Peter having to convince the guy, for the umpteenth time, that killing is wrong.” – @Zumbivampiro
• “She'll obviously be the Mary Jane Venom from some alternate reality.” – @alejadoguhulee
• I honestly think it's Teresa Parker.” - @ElGrandBaiano

There you have it, there is no shortage of speculation on who the Whale actress may be playing. But where do I stand on these rumors? Let me explain.

My Thoughts On The Rachel Cole Rumors

If I’m being honest, Rachel Cole wouldn’t have been my first, second or even fifth choice for a character I’d expect to see Sadie Sink playing in the MCU. As @ElGrandBaiano suggested, Teresa Parker could be an option, but that feels a little too Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) for my taste. The whole “long-lost sister of Peter Parker, daughter of secret-agent parents” storyline is already pretty out there — even knowing how the Marvel Multiverse works standards.

Speaking of the Multiverse, I was secretly hoping the Fear Street alum might be playing Mayday Parker, Peter and MJ’s daughter from an alternate universe. But as cool as that would be, it doesn’t really fit the grounded, street-level Spider-Man movie we’ve been hearing about. As for the Jean Grey theory, I love the boldness, but I just don’t see Marvel introducing a character that massive as a side role in another hero’s film. If (or when) Jean shows up, it’ll almost certainly be in a dedicated X-Men project.

So for now, all signs, and leaks, seem to point toward Rachel Cole being the most likely choice. That may not sound exciting at first, but I’m not ready to write it off. Sadie Sink has proven time and again, especially in Stranger Things (available to stream with a Netflix subscription), that she can bring real emotional depth to any role. If anyone can elevate a smaller, lesser-known Marvel character into something special, it’s her.

We’ll know for sure when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, 2026, as part of the upcoming 2026 movie release schedule.

Do you remember where you were the day Stranger Things debuted on Netflix? Sure, it's nowhere near as universally important an incident as JFK's assassination or the moon landing, but it could eventually become as important a TV premiere as I Love Lucy orLost (or Finn Wolfhard's go-to comparison Game of Thrones). Of course, that depends on how well its fifth and final season is received by audiences around the world, and whether or not it quells concerns that the actors have gotten too old.

With the new episodes finally set to arrive starting on Thanksgiving, the cast and creators have been quite busy with promoting the horror/sci-fi juggernaut for the last time, more than nine years after the first season introduced audiences to Hawkins, the Wheelers and the Byers (among others). For an expansive profile for Time, co-star Millie Bobby Brown moderated a Q&A with other cast members that tapped into how much the actors have out-aged their characters.

When posed a question about the biggest differences the stars could pick out between Season 1 and Season 5, Finn Wolfhard offered this gem that had Brown giggling:

• FINN WOLFHARD: Hung out. We got along. We went to bars. We went to bars together.
• NOAH SCHNAPP: Yeah, there was less drama.

It boggles the mind that Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Eleven were even in the vicinity of being old enough to go to bars together while still playing the same high school students for nearly a decade. It'd be like seeing Big Bird at a bar after 50 years of watching him as a 6-year-old. Okay, maybe that's not quite right, but close enough.

Speaking to the idea that the cast members hanging out together wasn't always the case, others chimed in to say:

• MILLIE BOBBY BROWN: I would agree, I think our age...
• GATEN MATARAZZO: The lack of school in the last two seasons.
• NOAH SCHNAPP: School pit us against each other, and without school, we were all best friends.

Nobody fully addressed why the behind-the-scenes schooling was so rough on their intrapersonal relationships, but they wouldn't be the first group of teens who found an on-set education to be more stressful than traditional means. Gaten Matazzara voiced that he can still feel the heart rush and stress that came from that time, and wasn't exactly excited about it sticking around.

That's another gobsmacking realization to bring up, of course: the Stranger Things kids are all out of high school, and some have been for years. It's an even bigger brain-buster when one considers that the core squad of D&D-loving characters won't even be seniors at Hawkins High when the show returns. (That age gap is visibly obvious when watching the adult-leaning actors still riding kids' bikes.)

In fact, it's been so long since Millie Bobby Brown has experienced schooling on Stranger Things' set that she's actually nostalgic for it. As she put it:

I'm hoping it will be easy for audiences to fall right back into the show's clutches without thinking about the de-aging techniques, and that the dispelled rumors about massive episode runtimes don't actually turn out to be true. If we're already gonna spend most of 2025's last month bitching about Will's dumb haircut and Max being in a coma for half of the season, I really don't want to also have feature-length episodes in the mix.

Stranger Things will debut its final season’s first four episodes via Netflix subscription on Thursday, November 27, 2025, with later episodes dropping on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly releasing new projects, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie heading to theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and there are tons of questions about what director Destin Daniel Cretton has up his sleeve. There are a ton of rumors about Sadie Sink's mysterious role, and a new rumor offers a possible connection to Jon Bernthal's Punisher. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is very limited, so moviegoers are filling in the blanks with theories and rumors. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled about Hulk and Punisher having roles, and a new rumor from ScreenRant about Sink offers another character she might be playing: Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole-Alves.

In the comics, Rachel is a former Marine and a vigilante who is an ally of The Punisher. She wears his signature logo, and uses his same methods of firearms to take down villains. She's also a redhead, which is partly why folks think that's who Sadie Sink is playing in Brand New Day... especially if the new Spider-Man movie is focused on street-level crime in NYC.

This is just one fan theory about Sink's role in the next Spider-Man movie, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt. Still, it would be awesome to see the breakout star of Stranger Things (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) fighting alongside Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle. Hopefully, we get information about who she is actually playing sooner rather than later.

This theory about Sink playing Rachel may offer more validity to another Brand New Day rumor about Punisher getting a sidekick. While I originally thought this was an opportunity to bring back Giorgia Whigham's Amy from the Punisher TV series, pairing Sink with Bernthal is also a thrilling concept.

Of course, this isn't the only rumor about who Sadie Sink might be playing in the next Spider-Man movie. News of her casting started a number of theories, including that she might play Mary Jane Watson. Another popular choice was X-Man Jean Grey, especially with the mutants becoming a bigger presence in the MCU. Hopefully, the studio offers some concrete information about her role soon.

While we wait for the studio to confirm the actress's role, all eyes are on what will happen with Sadie Sink's signature character Max in Stranger Things Season 5. The story of Hawkins is coming to an end, and the last time we saw Max, she was in a coma as a result of Vecna's attack.

Stranger Things will return for Season 5 on November 26th. As for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that'll arrive in theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long before finding out exactly who Sadie Sink is playing.

Is there any one of the new Marvel movies more exciting than Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Sure, I’m hyped for the next Avengers movies, but as a lifelong Spider-Man fan, I absolutely cannot wait to see Tom Holland’s Spidey back in action after the fantastic No Way Home in 2021. As it’s begun filming in Glasgow this month, all sorts of rumors have been coming out about what famed characters are part of the movie, and I think it’s a good time for me to talk about the love interest I’ve always wanted to see in a Spider-Man movie.

A character that’s been circling the rumor mill for awhile now, has been regarding Sadie Sink’s casting. There are a lot of ideas floating around the internet about who she could play, from Jean Grey to Peter Parker’s daughter Mayday Parker, though I think the most popular is that she’d provide the latest version of Gwen Stacy. But, I’d much rather see Black Cat be the latest paramour from the comics for Peter Parker/Spider-Man... if it's not going to be MJ, of course.

I've Always Wanted To See A Spider-Man And Black Cat Storyline

Back when I got into the Spider-Man comics when I was younger, one character that I really ended up digging, who has never properly been in a movie before, is Black Cat/Felicia Hardy. The character has been in Marvel Comics since 1979, and has been both a villain (which has even been a Brand New Day rumor for Black Cat), girlfriend and ally for Spider-Man in comic books over the years. While I obviously am all in on Peter and Zendaya’s MJ being endgame, I always thought it would be fun to see the movies tackle the really unique dynamic between these characters in an interim story.

When I think of Spider-Man and Black Cat’s relationship from the comics, it’s a lot more about their magnetic chemistry and the excitement around two vigilantes knowing each other. The two kiss in the comics before they even know their real names. Peter is beloved for having a really sweet and innocent disposition when it comes to his romantic relationships, but I’ve always thought it would be worth the young hero getting caught into the whiskers of Black Cat’s electricity for a little bit – even if she’s more of a temptation, than an actual relationship he ultimately pursues.

Black Cat Is Much Different From MJ Or Gwen Stacy

While MJ’s entry point to Spider-Man is through Peter, Black Cat gets to know Spider-Man first in the comics while they are both in their masked vigilante personas. Unlike MJ, they can relate to having the same vocations to some degree, but Black Cat is known for being a lot less high and mighty when it comes to crime fighting – often reverting to actual crime like burglary, herself. This causes a rift between them, and makes their relationship an on and off one in the comics, but Spidey having a bit of spice in his life is kind of a blast in the comics.

It feels like the perfect time for Tom Holland’s hero to briefly get into this relationship, because when No Way Home ended, a spell was cast where no one will remember the name Peter Parker anymore, but will remember Spider-Man. I could see Peter really falling into his hero persona in the fallout of that, and flames being fanned with a person who directly correlates to empowering that persona and kind of putting Peter on the back burner.

I'm Still Bummed The Amazing Spider-Man Film Series Cut Felicia Hardy's Plotline

Black Cat has almost been in prior Spider-Man movies two times before, with Anne Hathaway being up for the role in Sam Raimi’s fourth movie before it was scrapped. Additionally, Felicity Jones briefly played the role of Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but only as Harry Osborn’s executive assistant. The movie was setting up the character getting a bigger role in a third Amazing Spider-Man movie that also never happened.

Tom Holland’s movies have allowed the character to interact with the Avengers, and do so much more than the prior movies have been able to do. I really hope that Black Cat can finally get an iteration after two prior tries.

The Amazing Spider-Man Movies Already Explored Gwen Stacy And Peter Parker Thoroughly

Going back to Gwen Stacy, I don’t particularly want to see another iteration of the character after the last two big-screen Spider-Man franchises explored her, if Peter is going to get another love interest in Brand New Day. While Sam Raimi’s version did a disservice to the character, I actually thought Peter and Gwen’s relationship in the The Amazing Spider-Man movies was actually the best part of those films.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone did the best job of creating this believable young romance that ended in comic-accurate tragedy of Gwen dying while Spidey tries to save her from Green Goblin. Considering the main arc between Peter and Gwen ends in her death, I would rather not bawl my eyes out over that iconic comic book moment, especially after all that Peter has gone through with MJ. Gwen is supposed to be Peter’s first love anyway, so it just thematically doesn’t make sense to me. And, I want to see new territory in these Spider-Man movies.

I'm More Interested In Seeing Gwen Stacy Again As Spider-Gwen

Now that’s not to say I’d never want to see a new live-action version of Gwen Stacy on the big screen. My favorite iteration of her is the Spider-Gwen comic run where a version from another universe, who is in her own rock band, gets bitten by the radioactive spider instead, and becomes a hero. We’ve seen this storyline quite a bit in the Spider-Verse animated movies, and I’d jump for joy if Spider-Gwen ever got her own standalone movie, animated or live-action. But Gwen’s main storyline from the comics just doesn’t move the needle for me.

Even though I’m vying for Black Cat to finally find her place in a movie via Spider-Man: Brand New Day, I’m totally up for whatever ride Marvel Studios has in store for us. There are so many excellent characters in the Spidey universe, and I’m hyped to hear it's getting bigger beyond Zendaya’s MJ with Brand New Day. The movie is set to hit theaters on July 31, 2026!

When Tom Holland’s Peter Parker swings back into our lives next year in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he’ll have a Strangers Things star in tow. Sadie Sink was cast in the upcoming Spider-Man movie in March, and almost right out the gate, it was theorized that she might be playing Mary Jane Watson or Jean Grey. However, now there’s a new Brand New Day rumor out there making a wild claim about Sink’s role, and honestly, I could buy this happening in a post-Avengers: Doomsday landscape.

If a source who spoke to The Hot Mic co-host John Rocha is to be believed, Sink is playing May “Mayday” Parker, who is Peter Parker’s teenage daughter from another universe in the comics and goes by Spider-Girl. But it gets even wilder, as this source claims this version of Mayday will be the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker, who teamed up with Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield’s versions in Spider-Man: No Way Home. If this information is accurate, then this would be Mayday’s second theatrical appearance, as she was presented as the infant daughter of Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

While this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt for now, Sadie Sink playing Mayday Parker wouldn’t be the most farfetched thing to happen. Even ignoring how Tom Holland’s Peter has already dabbled with multiverses craziness, just look at the upcoming Marvel movie’s title: Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Day… Mayday… wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

More importantly though, let’s remember that Brand New Day is coming out two months after Avengers: Doomsday’s May 2026 release. While Marvel Studios opted to have Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel take place before the events of Avengers: Infinity War (minus their end credits scenes), there’s a good chance that the next Spider-Man movie could build off what goes down in Doomsday. If that’s the case, then having Mayday Parker meeting a younger variant of her father would be rather fitting, as it might become easier for travel between realities after the fifth Avengers movie.

Now none of this is to say we’d also see Tobey Maguire back as his Peter or Kirsten Dunst back as Mary Jane Watson for the first time since Spider-Man 3, although I certainly hope this would happen, too. What’s more important to me is that we see Sadie Sink’s Mayday as Spider-Girl rather than just a powerless civilian. Let’s see how she does helping our main protagonist fight whoever the villain is (Jeff Sneider, The Hot Mic’s other host, claims it’s going to be Mister Negative), and maybe we could then see her return in Avengers: Secret Wars.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day spins its web in theaters on July 26, 2026. The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas recently joined in an undisclosed role, and Destin Daniel Cretton is directing the feature. We’ll keep our eyes and ears out for any details that verify or debunk that we’ll be seeing Sadie Sink as Mayday Parker.

I’m not a huge fan of musicals. I don’t really like them on the stage, and I really don’t like them on the silver screen. Though O’Dessa, the musical starring Sadie Sink and streaming on Hulu, hasn’t been a hit with many critics, it was a hit with me. I wasn’t sure at first why I liked it when I expected to hate it, but then it dawned on me. It’s more like The Who’s Tommy than, say, Wicked, and I love Tommy.

It’s A Rock Opera With Great Characters

O’Dessa puts music at the forefront by making the story about the music. That really works for me. Stranger Things cast member Sadie Sink, fresh off of wrapping filming on the Netflix hit, stars as O'Dessa Galloway, who wants to become a traveling musician like those from the 1930s, in a dystopian future where everything is ruled by the host of a TV talent show, played by Murray Bartlett. She wants to be a “rambler,” as she calls it, like her father. Her father, by the way, is played by musician Pokey LaFarge who has modeled his own music career after the same kind of musician.

O'Dessa's music is the story, and I realize that I’m splitting hairs when I say it is integral to the movie, as you could say that about all musicals. Not to pick on Wicked and its marvelous technical achievements, but it’s a story that could be told with or without the music. I understand that the music is the point, but for me, making the music – 16 original songs written by Geremy Jasper and Jason Binnick – a key plot element changes everything. When the characters break into song, it drives home the emotion of O’Dessa’s struggles and, eventually, her love for Euri (Kelvin Harrison Jr.); it doesn’t take me out of the story.

I Also Loved The Electro-Folk Vibe To The Set Pieces

As I watched the movie, I kept thinking about the set pieces and how the movie looks. It’s got a dystopian, futuristic element to it, of course, but the sets are also lit with multicolor LEDs, neon lights, and other discarded pieces of technology that update a sort of steampunk vibe with a modern touch.

It's Electro-Folk. It’s folk music, or at least Americana music, but with a rave vibe. The music is both old-timey and very modern. The sets are very much in what a dystopian nightmare might look like in 100 years. It’s a multi-genre feast for the ears and eyes for a modern generation who have the entire music catalog of the last 100 years at its fingertips; Americana, contemporary pop, and EDM are fused like never before.

It heartens me to know that despite the lukewarm reception by critics, the film has seemingly been popular on Hulu, so people are watching it. It’s also exciting to watch Sink, who will be in the next installment of Spider-Man, as her career transitions from child star to more adult roles. I also hope it can become a big enough hit that we’ll see more musicals like it on the upcoming movie schedule in the future.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps getting bigger, with new movies hitting theaters and shows available for anyone with a Disney+ subscription. Fans are buzzing this week about Sadie Sink’s casting in a secret role for Spider-Man 4. There are whispers on the web that the Stranger Things star might be taking over as a more classic approach to the Mary Jane Watson character in the next Spider-Man movie and, across the internet, a number of fans aren't too pleased.

The speculation shared by Film Updates on X suggested Said Sink could be in the running for either Mary Jane Watson or Jean Grey in the 2026 movie release Spider-Man 4. While this remains unconfirmed, fans immediately took to social media to express their frustrations, especially in regard to the notion of replacing Zendaya’s MJ in the MCU. One fan, @Helensfilms, kept it short and sweet, saying what many were thinking. They wrote:

Another user pointed out that Zendaya’s version of MJ, which has been a core part of the MCU Spider-Man movies, doesn’t need to be replaced. @wildestblues commented:

Fans are super excited about the slate of upcoming Marvel films, and there are always tons of rumors and theories surrounding each new project. Often, they don't add up to anything, so the rumors surrounding the young the Glass Castle actress should be taken with a grain of salt.

Zendaya’s version of MJ in Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy has become a definitive version of the character, even though she differs from the classic comic book interpretation. Given the intense chemistry between her and Holland’s Peter Parker–and their real-life relationship–fans aren’t eager to see their romance abandoned in Spider-Man 4.

Others took issue with the idea that Marvel Studios might be introducing a "new" MJ, considering Zendaya’s Michelle Jones-Watson was already an offshoot of the character. User @otto_tenet made a fair point, pointing out:

And some fans believe Tom Holland himself wouldn’t be on board with a love interest shake-up. @reallytiffish hits it on the head with:

Tom Holland probably has some pull with the next entry in the franchise, and I doubt he lets his fiancee be replaced as the love interest. Another fan, @TheBigBengal, seems to share a similar sentiment, stating:

The thought of her playing Mary Jane has stirred up some debates, but a lot of people are still really excited about the idea of Sink joining the MCU. Some fans actually think she’d be a better fit as Jean Grey in the X-Men reboot movie, and a lot of folks agree it would suit her pretty well.

The thought of her playing Mary Jane has stirred up some debates, but a lot of people are still really excited about the idea of Sink joining the MCU. Some fans actually think she’d be a better fit as Jean Grey in the X-Men reboot movie, and a lot of folks agree it would suit her pretty well.

Even if the Whale actress isn’t stepping into the Marvel franchise, it’s clear that the fandom is not ready to move on from Zendaya’s MJ just yet. With Spider-Man 4 still in early development, it remains to be seen what Marvel has planned for Peter Parker’s next big-screen adventure. But, if these reactions are anything to go by, the studio might want to think twice before making any drastic changes to Spidey’s love life.

Right now, until the movie drops on July 31, 2026, all we can do is guess how Sadie Sink might fit into Spider-Man 4. Meanwhile, be sure to check out our 2025 movie schedule to see what other projects the Fear Street alum has on the horizon, not related to an upcoming superhero movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans are always looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, with a number of rumors and theories swirling around each project. One of the most popular ones online this week is the claim that Sadie Sink has a mysterious role in Spider-Man 4. The Whale actress responded to this chatter, but now I'm even more confused about what's true and what's not.

What we know about Spider-Man 4 is limited, so fans are filling in the blanks with rumors as the development process continues. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have grown quite fond of Holland's title character, as well as Zendaya's MJ and Jacob Batalon's Ned. Exactly who Sink is playing remains to be seen, but popular theories include Jean Grey and the classic Mary Jane Watson. One funny tweet poked fun at the rumors, claiming she was somehow playing Uncle Ben in the blockbuster. The Stranger Things star saw this and shared it on her Instagram Story, adding three emojis:

While the meme about her playing Uncle Ben seemingly tickled Sink, she didn't confirm or deny that she's got a role in the fourth Spider-Man movie. Was she laughing at the joke about Ben, or the idea that she was even cast in the blockbuster? It's unclear, but Marvel's tight security definitely complicates the situation one way or another.

While most upcoming MCU movies are highly anticipated, the fourth Spider-Man movie is on another level entirely. This is because of the wild popularity of Tom Holland's Peter Parer, as well as the twist ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

After the three Spider-Men teamed up for an epic multiversal battle, Peter Parker ultimately decided to let Doctor Strange finish his spell. Everyone who ever knew Peter and/or Spider-Man had their memories wiped, ensuring that his loved ones like MJ and Ned could live normal lives. It's been years since that 2021 movie hit theaters, and fans haven't gotten any update about how Spider-Man is holding up now that he's alone and able to fight crime with anonymity.

Sadie Sink seems like a no brainer to join the shared universe, given her wild popularity related to Stranger Things (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription). And with that show ending with its fifth and final season, her schedule could presumably be free to join the MCU.

As previously mentioned, the two most popular theories about Sadie Sink's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are Jean Grey and Mary Jane Watson. The latter would be a controversial choice, given Peter's relationship with Zendaya's MJ and her wild popularity among the fans.

Spider-Man 4 is currently expected to arrive in theaters July 31, 2026, so the questions will likely continue on since the project isn't part of the 2025 movie release dates.

It’s been a minute since we hung out with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but development on the 2026 release of Spider-Man 4 is chugging along nicely. Today is an especially big day for the upcoming Marvel movie, as it’s been revealed that Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink is the first new actor to be cast in it. Not only that, there’s already a wild theory about who she’ll play in the Web-Slinger’s next cinematic adventure.

We have Deadline to thank for this casting update, which comes ahead of Spider-Man 4 expected to begin production sometime this summer. Now, since this is a Marvel Studios project (in collaboration with Sony Pictures, of course), details on who Sink is playing are understandably being kept secret for now. However, as noted in the article, there’s already been a theory going around for months that the Max Mayfield actress will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Jean Grey.

Granted, the article also mentions it’s possible that Saide Sink could be playing “another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character,” meaning Mary Jane Watson. However, since we already got an “MJ” through Zendaya’s Michelle Jones-Watson in the first three Tom Holland-led Spidey movies, I have my doubts about this possibility. Either way, Sink’s role will be “significant” and follow on the heels of Stranger Things Season 5 wrapping up the sci-fi/horror saga set in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana at a yet-to-be-announced date on the 2025 TV schedule.

Previously played by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in the X-Men movies from the 20th Century Fox era, Jean Grey is one of Marvel’s most well-known mutant superheroes. With the MCU peppering in X-Men references for several years now and an X-Men reboot movie on the way, it stands to reason that we’d get a new version of the telekinetic and telepathic superhero rather than just leave her on the sidelines. That’s been strengthened by the rumors that have been going around for months that Sadie Sink is the “frontrunner” to play Jean.

While having Jean Grey make her MCU debut in an upcoming Spider-Man movie might sound unusual at first, it’s actually pretty par for the course. Among the things Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies are best known for are including major Marvel characters who aren’t directly part of Peter Parker’s supporting cast in the comics. Tony Stark/Iron Man and Happy Hogan appeared in Homecoming, Nick Fury and Maria Hill appeared in Far From Home, and Doctor Strange appeared in No Way Home.

Assuming Sadie Sink is indeed playing Jean Grey, the question then becomes how will she cross paths with Peter in Spider-Man 4? At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange erased everyone’s memory of Peter in order to save the Marvel multiverse. So now our intrepid wall-crawler is on his own and forging a new life for himself, one without MJ and Ned. It’s easy enough to envision Peter somehow meeting Jean, and presumably she already has her powers, though I’m skeptical about if she’s already affiliated with the X-Men.

Once there’s official word on Sink’s involvement in Spider-Man 4, as well as whom she’ll play, we’ll pass that information along. For now, I’m just looking forward to the actress sharing screen time with Tom Holland and the mere possibility that Jean Grey will be present in this movie opening on July 31, 2026.

If you’ve ever watched Stranger Things, you know that the hit sci-fi series is full of fun, nostalgic and occasionally creepy items from the '80s. That could be Joyce’s alphabet wall of Christmas lights from Season 1 or the iconic bikes the kids have ridden around Hawkins throughout the series. Given that production on the fifth and final season officially wrapped ahead of its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, one has to wonder what cast members might've taken to commemorate their time on the show. Well, it turns out Sadie Sink definitely did just that.

Productions are rarely fond of the cast and crew taking props from sets, but that hasn’t stopped actors in the past from doing just that. It’s a topic that’s been on the mind of several Stranger Things stars since the fifth season started shooting, like Finn Wolfhard, who revealed the sweet props he hoped to take from the set when filming wrapped. There’s been no word from the It star on whether he was successful. However, his co-star, Sadie Sink, did reveal -- while appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon -- that she made off with some "essentials":

That's quite the haul, but it's a perfect combination of items to honor her character, Max Mayfield. I’m excited to see if she ends up wearing any of Max’s shoes during the official press tour for Season 5, whenever that may be. (Plus, I'm super jealous that she was gifted the skateboard.)

As fun as it is to hear the cast talk about what props they’ve taken from the set, it’s a crushing reminder that the beloved show is coming to an end in 2025. The cast and crew have spent ten years working one of the best Netflix series, and it’s no secret that saying goodbye instead of “see you later” has been an emotional affair for many of them.

Immediately after filming wrapped, Ross Duffer expressed his gratitude for the show that changed his life as did several members of the cast. Eleven actress Millie Bobby Brown also followed suit. Additionally, Sadie Sink shared an emotional Instagram post with her followers but opened up more to Jimmy Fallon, saying:

The Whale star made her franchise debut amid Stranger Things' underrated second season but quickly became a fan-favorite character. And, in Season 4, she was the catalyst for the gang figuring out who Vecna is and where he was lurking in the Upside Down. Though she wasn’t a part of the show from the very beginning, Sink has become a crucial member of the cast and member of the seemingly tight-knit ST family. With that, I hope she holds on to the memories she has as well as the primo props that are now in her possession.

Though an exact release date has yet to be announced, Netflix has made it clear that Stranger Things Season 5 will debut this year. Until then, fans can relive the best and worst moments from the show's first four seasons by streaming it with an active Netflix subscription. Fans of Sadie Sink can also catch her this spring in the Broadway production John Proctor is the Villain.

Immediately after Stranger Things Season 5 wrapped, Ross Duffer posted an emotional statement that included a note about how the kids in the cast have grown up on this show. The idea of these actors starting their work on this Netflix hit as small children and ending it as adults is what sends me over the edge emotionally while thinking about this show coming to an end. So, you better believe that when Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Noah Schnapp and Finn Wolfhard posted their tributes to finishing production, I was reaching for the tissues.

This is a monumental moment. While we have a wait ahead of us when it comes to seeing Eleven, Mike and co. for the final time, the actors who play them have said their last goodbyes. Now, as the anticipation really starts to build for Season 5’s premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, the young performers are getting sentimental on Instagram about their last moments on set, with Millie Bobby Brown posting:

In the final video in the carousel, Brown noted that she was “nowhere ready to leave” the cast and crew. Across Season 5’s production, the Eleven actress has said they were having a blast working and they weren’t ready to think about the end. So, when the end came, it’s not surprising that she was choked up giving this speech, and it’s obvious that this role has meant the world to her.

Meanwhile, while Sadie Sink joined the cast as Max later than the other kids, it feels like she’s one of the OGs and she grew up on the show too. In her Instagram post, she used a bunch of old photos of her and her castmates, writing the show “made me who I am” and “gave me the most amazing childhood.” She also wrote that “saying goodbye is so painful,” and I feel that!

Will actor Noah Schnapp wrote the most on Instagram out of these actors, creating a ten-point list that thanked various members of the cast and crew. Noting all his young co-stars, Winona Ryder, the crew, the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy, he detailed what he’d learned from them, and then ended with a note about how much the show as a whole has meant to him, writing in part:

It’s important to remember that when these performers started working on Stranger Things they were all tweens, and now they’re in their 20s. That period of life is so formative for everyone, and it’s powerful to see these stars reflect on growing up on this fantastic Netflix series.

Keeping the sentiment train rolling, Finn Wolfhard posted a throwback picture along with two BTS photos from Season 5, explaining that the older image (which you can see below) captures the energy he associates with Stranger Things:

Along with the image, the Mike actor made it clear that he’s still in “shock” that they’re done with Stranger Things after filming Season 5 for the last year, and that he’ll miss it all “terribly.” However, he also sweetly wrote about what this show means to him, explaining:

Seriously, I need a box of tissues now, and I’m 1,000% going to need them when Season 5 premieres on Netflix’s 2025 schedule.

Watching these incredible young performers go on one final ride as these beloved kids is hard to fathom, but these tributes hammer home the fact that the end is coming. However, while that makes me sad, these sentimental posts show how much care and love went into Season 5, and it makes me very confident that we’re in for something special.

So, before we go on our last bike ride through Hawkins with these kids, you can literally watch them grow up by streaming the first four seasons of Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription.

Stranger Things 5 is officially in production and, with all the behind-the-scenes teases being shared by the cast and crew, it's getting to that time again where I feel the need to binge this amazing series once more. If you remember where we left off, the Duffer Brothers wrote Sadie Sink’s character -- fan-favorite Max Mayfield -- into an essential role for Season 4, and she absolutely stole the show. As the main target of Vecna’s torment, Max was frequently lifted up into the air, held under a spell cast by the villainous being. You’d think that with all the wild stunts, the Fear Street alum would be unfazed but, actually, the 22-year-old actress is quite afraid of heights. And that came into play amid the stunt coming together in a wild way.

The All Too Well Short Film star recently participated in a Variety interview, during which she shared a BTS shot of herself harnessed up floating above the ground. This picture (which you can see in the YouTube clip) was taken during a rehearsal for one of the best moments from Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1. (And it's also one of the most emotional scenes of the entire series.) You know the one. It's scene where Max is overtaken by Vecna, and then all of a sudden is saved by the song that was everyone’s new obsession and instantly became associated with the series: Kate Bush’s iconic “Running Up That Hill.” Well, aside from listening to that song on repeat, Sadie Sink prepared for the role by practicing her own stunts, despite initial hesitance:

According to the Dear Zoe actress, she and the crew only practiced the stunt for one day, expecting to shoot the actual sequence the next week. But, of course, that’s when the COVID pandemic reared its ugly head and led to filming being halted. So there was a year and a half between the practice stunt and the real shoot, with the Whale alum expected to just get it immediately without a refresher. And well, she pulled it off, which is incredibly impressive.

I don’t think I need to remind you how powerful Sadie Sink's acting was. That scene emphasized the importance of friendship, especially in the face of tragedy. It gave fans all the feels, it and still does. In case you need a refresher, here is the scene the Internet couldn’t get enough of:

Listen, maybe I’m just obsessed with Sadie Sink, I’m not going to deny it, but casting her as Max may have been the best creative decision the Duffer Brothers ever made, aside from creating the show in the first place, of course. Even with the way Stranger Things 4 ended, I think her character is still going to be very important to the core characters' attempts to rid Hawkins, Indiana (and the world) of Vecna and the Upside Down for good. Despite some concerning comments from the Duffers, I’m still excited to see how everything plays out and curious as to whether Sink is doing more wire work for the show.

We still have a while to go until we get the final season of Stranger Things, which is tentatively set to arrive in 2025, becoming available with a Netflix subscription. Until then, I’m pulling a Max and adding “Running Up That Hill” back into my daily rotation.

For all the extended waiting that fans have to do between seasons, one of the best Netflix shows available to stream at any given time will always be its Hawkins-set horror drama, and fans are desperate for Stranger Things Season 5 to finally arrive. (Even if it’s not on the 2024 TV schedule.) One of the biggest worries among the viewership centers on Sadie Sink’s Max, who was left in a coma by the end of Season 4. Now, the Duffer brothers have further stoked that fear with their latest comments.

Sink herself was interviewed by Variety about her current status as a beloved young Hollywood star, as well as how she’s handled the hurdles that come with fame. Since all eyes will be on her when Stranger Things returns, questions obviously came up regarding fan-favorite Max’s health status, which she teased in a way that made it clear the character will be active, though not in what capacity. Matt and Ross Duffer offered slightly more context, but in a way that make things seem slightly more worrisome for Max and/or possibly Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas. In their words:

• Matt Duffer: She’s going to play a part in the season
• Ross Duffer: But we don’t want to reveal how that’s possible.
• Matt Duffer: Right, because she’s in a coma. . . . I think she’s grown just more confident as an actor and in her choices. We did film a scene the other day with her that was just absolutely heartbreaking. I don’t know how she hits those notes.

It's quite interesting for Matt Duffer to bring up Max being in a coma in the same conversation as complimenting Sadie Sink for her acting choices. Granted, I guess she could pull off some A+ coma-acting choices that really bring the house down, but it does seem like those scenes will just involve her lying there without much acting involved.

As such, one would have to imagine that whatever the "heartbreaking" scene is that the co-creator mentions, it presumably takes place away from Max's hospital bed. And considering she's already lost her semi-redeemed douchebag brother Billy, I'm not wholly sure what kinds of heartbreaking moments she could experience that wouldn't involve either her or Lucas dealing with something tragic.

So could Matt Duffer have been referring to Lucas being killed off? Or perhaps it's a scene where she has to sacrifice herself for the greater good, and he's referring to her farewells to others. I could probably continue down this trauma-filled path with a bunch of other theories about what could go wrong, but nobody needs that kind of stress this far ahead of Season 5's arrival.

For her part, Sadie Sink only brought up one specific action when referring to her character getting physical in Season 5, and it's an action that speaks directly to Max's favorite tune. Here's how she put it:

Although she did go on to say that the prior week of filming was particularly active, and that it made her forget just how busy things could get. Having such a large cast means quite a bit of downtime for certain actors, depending on what characters are in scenes together. So it sounds like at least one episode will be quite heavy on Max in action. Just hopefully without any heartbreaking stuff involved.

Here's hoping the worst thing that happens is her Walkman breaks. Sure, that would suck, but better to have to buy a new cassette player than to attend a friend's funeral. At least we don’t have to worry about Will’s hair anymore, thanks to his new ‘do. And I guess we don’t have to fret over Stranger Things not having a dedicated line of candles, because it does now.

We’re still waiting on a premiere date for Season 5 of Stranger Things, but check out what the Duffer brothers are working on next in the meantime.

Between a host of lovable characters, skin-crawling monsters and the mysterious underworld of the Upside Down, Stranger Things is one of the most obsession-worthy shows imaginable for fans of science fiction. As we prepare to say goodbye to one of Netflix’s best creations with Stranger Things Season 5, it’s a great time to show your love of the TV show in your living space (or give a great gift to a fellow fan) with the show’s many available Funko Pops.

Across the four seasons of Stranger Things that have been released thus far, so many iconic character moments and they’ve been immortalized through Funko Pops. If you’re shopping for the best Stranger Things Funkos, look no further to become a master of Pop-pets. 

Eleven With Eggos And Mike With Walkie Talkie (From Season 1) 

Friends don’t lie! Our love of Stranger Things all started back in 2016 when the first season introduced us to Eleven and the gang of friends who help her. Eleven and Mike create a special bond from the start, and those beginnings have been turned into a pair of Funkos you can buy together, because as we know, Eleven and Mike don’t like to be apart for long.

Will The Wise (From Season 3) 

It’s safe to say the Stranger Things boys may not have become the best of friends that they are without the power of Dungeons and Dragons, which they would play every week together before their life kind of became a game of survival on its own. In the spirit of that, a unique Funko to own is this glow in the dark “Will The Wise” figure! 

Hawaiian Shirt Hopper (From Season 3) 

David Harbour’s Jim Hopper is one of the best parts of Stranger Things, between his character arc and funny moments with the cast. His best fit of the series has to be in Season 3 when he rocked a Hawaiian shirt and does some action-packed investigating. Hopper fans will love this find. 

Max with Walkman (From Season 4) 

I don’t think we’ll ever forget the emotional “Running Up That Hill” sequence starring Sadie Sink’s Max in Season 4 of Stranger Things. The moment that made Kate Bush’s ‘80s song go viral decades after its release has been tributed though this Funko Pop. She looks a lot more content as a frozen figure than how she appeared in the show, that’s for sure. 

Joyce with Christmas Lights (From Season 1) 

When we first fell for Stranger Things, Joyce’s sequence with the Christmas Lights in an effort to communicate with Will from the Upside Down was one of those big moments that got us there. This Funko Pop's price has lit up a big higher over the years as it's become more rare, so snatch it up before you have to communicate by otherworldly means to get your own! 

Robin In Scoops Ahoy Outfit (From Season 3) 

It’s hard to believe Maya Hawke’s Robin has only been around for two seasons on Stranger Things, because she’s become a favorite of ours so quickly! While she’s worn a lot of great fits since her introduction, her most identifiable outfit remains from Scoops Ahoy, where she was once a coworker with Steve Harrington at the mall. A lot of mileage comes from that hat font.

Eddie Munson & Dustin With The Demobats (From Season 4) 

The last we saw of the series was the Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2 ending, where Dustin and Eddie came across some pesky Demobats in the Upside Down and had to fend them off. Ultimately, Eddie fended them off and lost his life saving everyone doing so by playing Metallica’s “Master of the Puppets” on his guitar. Funko made this special set of both Eddie and Dustin coming against the Demobats. It’s a great keepsake for an all-time great moment in the series. 

Steve Harrington with Spiked Baseball Bat (From Season 2) 

I say with confidence that Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington remains the No. 1 heartthrob of Stranger Things in many of our hearts, and him swinging his spiked baseball bat with Demogorgon-destroying rage was most certainly a highlight of the character’s arc on the show thus far. This Funko Pop was a San Diego Comic Con exclusive, so it’s pricer than the others, but we’re not bat-ting any eyelashes at that, since it’s a great figure!  

Alexei with Slurpee (From Season 3) 

Another iconic slice of Season 3 (arguably the most iconic of anything free from danger and romance) was Alexei’s Slurpee moment. The Russian scientist quickly became a beloved character during the 2016 season of the show. Sadly, Alexei did not make it long enough to try new flavors, but this Funko Pop can keep him alive forever. 

Barb (From Season 1) 

The first famed casualty of Stranger Things was Barb. Anyone and everyone who saw Season 1 of Stranger Things needed a few business days (or business years, honestly) to cope with the sudden death of Nancy’s best friend so early in the series. She was gone too soon…but at least the character found justice in Funko form. 

Billy On Halloween (From Season 2) 

No list of ST characters would be complete without the hellacious Billy Hargrove, who first arrived in Season 2. The older step-brother of Max Mayfield was used as a vessel by the Mind Flayer, making him a sizable villain in Stranger Things. Perhaps his most memorable fit was on Halloween when he wore the leather jacket without a shirt. It’s one of the most sought after Funkos as well, given the price tag.  

Black Light Vecna (From Season 4) 

Speaking of villains, the big bad of Stranger Things is Vecna of course. With the release of the fourth season of the series, Funko released a special black light version of Vecna that will add some creepy coolness to whatever space you place it in. Is it Number One? That's up to the buyer.

Camo Lucas (From Season 3)

Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas Sinclair has had tons of great moments in the series (and plenty of Funko editions as well), but our favorite is this sweet fit he wore in Season 3. As you may recall, Lucas wore the same camo bandana in Season 1, so it was fun to see him bring it back for Season 3 with an upgrade to his ‘80s sense of style. 

Hunter Nancy (Season 4) 

Another OG Stranger Things character to add to your collection is Nancy Wheeler. While there’s many versions of the high schooler in Funko form, we argue the best is from Season 4 when she went into badass mode, gun and all! She might also have the best plastic 'do of anyone.

Jonathan With Camera (Season 1) 

And to finish out our collection of best Funko Pops, check out this Season 1 figure of a glaring Jonathan holding his camera. It’s going for $70 these days because it’s more rare than a lot of other figures, and presumably not because of what's on the camera's film. Treat yourself to Funko treasure! 

As you go down the Funko Pop rabbit hole, check out what movie Funko Pops we cannot believe hasn’t been made yet! You can also catch up on Stranger Things now with a Netflix subscription. 

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is on the way, and it’s really hard to comprehend the fact that there won’t be more after this. It turns out, the cast is also coping with this realization too, and they’ve been quite open about how they’re feeling. While this cast loves the show, and they have become uber-successful because of it, many of them are also ready to move on to other projects. And like a lot of the fans' feelings about the finale, they all seem to have those bittersweet emotions about one of Netflix’s best shows. With that said, here is what David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown and the cast of the Duffer Brothers' smash hit have to say about their series ending with Season 5. 

David Harbour 

David Harbour has seen some scripts for Season 5, and he’s very excited about the upcoming season. While we all have questions about how Vecna and those pesky demogorgons will impact the series and its end, the actor is aware of how the show is going to finish, and he calls it “moving.” While on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the man behind Hopper said:

Along with these comments, now that the writers’ and actors’ strikes are over, the cast and crew can get back to work. And the Harbour confirmed that they are wasting no time getting Stranger Things Season 5 into production. 

Millie Bobby Brown 

While she loves the show deeply, Millie Bobby Brown is ready for Stranger Things to end. During a conversation with Seventeen, the Eleven actress spoke about the end of this era, saying:

It makes sense that she’s ready to move forward. Between Enola Holmes 3 being in development and her other projects like Damsel, she’s a busy gal. Overall, she’s been clear about her excitement for the other work she’s pursuing along with Stranger Things.

Finn Wolfhard  

While Finn Wolfhard isn’t ready to say goodbye to Mike, he’s very excited to see what happens next. While speaking to Uproxx, the actor shared his thoughts on saying so-long to Hawkins, explaining:

However, while he doesn’t want the show to end, he also knows it’s the right time. He went on to say that if the series continued past Season 5 it would “be ridiculous.” With all that said, he noted that he’s positive the Duffers have figured out “a perfect ending,” and he hopes that it will be “satisfying for fans.” 

Caleb McLaughlin  

Along with joking about what he’d like to see from Lucas in the final season of Stranger Things (it’s him playing more basketball), Caleb McLaughlin has also shared his candid thoughts on the series ending. As he reflected on growing up on the show, he told Collider:

His comments are so sweet, and it turns out the majority of the original cast feels this way about the show ending.  

Noah Schnapp 

Noah Schnapp was 10 when he started working on Stranger Things, and like all the kids, he’s literally grown up on this show. Thinking about that fact, the Will actor reflected on the end, and how he’ll feel when the final “cut” is called, telling Collider:

Over the years, we’ve seen both Will and Schnapp grow so much, and we can’t wait to see how they evolve during Season 5. 

Gaten Matarazzo 

Gaten Matarazzo, who plays the beloved Dustin, spoke eloquently about the show coming to a close when he appeared on The Tonight Show in March. Speaking to Jimmy Fallon, the young actor explained:

I totally get where Matarazzo is coming from. The Stranger Things cast makes a lot of money, and this show has provided a lot of stability for them throughout the years. Moving forward must be a bit scary. 

He also said that while he doesn’t know how Dustin’s story will end, he trusts the Duffer brothers completely. Speaking about how he’d like to see the show wrap up, he said:

I hope that Dustin and the crew get this kind of ending too; they deserve it!

Sadie Sink 

Considering Max’s state at the end of Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2, it’s unclear what kind of role Sadie Sink will play in the upcoming episodes. However, according to a statement she made on Today, even though she has “no idea what is going to happen,” she’ll “be there.” Continuing to speak about the show, the actress said:

While Max wasn't introduced until Season 2, she quickly became an essential part of the family. And like Sink, I think we’ll all be sad to say goodbye to her and the Stranger Things family. 

Joe Keery 

Like most of this cast, Joe Keery, who plays the adored Steve Harrington, sees this as a bittersweet situation. While he’s ready to move forward, it’s also sad to say goodbye to a show that made such a big impact on his life. He told WWD: 

Overall, Keery’s comments seem to sum up the general consensus among the cast. There’s no question that Stranger Things is special, and it’s had an immensely positive impact on this cast and pop culture as a whole. However, all good things must come to an end, and why not go out on top?

Now that the actors’ strike is over, Stranger Things Season 5 should get going, and hopefully, it will hit Netflix in the next year or two. We here at CinemaBlend will be sure to keep you posted on everything regarding the final season of this gargantuan hit -- from the actors’ sweet comments about it coming to a close to the wild theories surrounding the folks of Hawkins and the Upsidedown. In the meantime, you can mentally prepare for the final season by streaming the legendary show with a Netflix subscription. 

One of the many things Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink have in common, other than getting recognition from Stranger Things, was experiencing their first kisses on the set of the hit Netflix series. The show’s second season may have been a real thriller seeing Will after being taken over by the Mindflayer, but we experienced heartwarming moments too, like the Snow Ball scene that ended in two on-screen kisses. After Millie Bobby Brown spoke about her on-screen kiss with Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink is now speaking honestly about her first on-screen kiss with Caleb McLaughlin.

Having your first kiss can be excruciating on set when you have a whole camera crew watching. Sadie Sink received her first on-camera smooch in the season two finale of Stranger Things when her character Max kisses Lucas played by Caleb McLaughlin. In an interview with W Magazine, Sink spoke about what that kiss was like. 

It’s good that she doesn’t cringe when she thinks about her first kiss. Part of growing up is realizing that not every kiss you have when you’re younger needs to be perfect. After the kiss scene premiered, Sadie Sink’s kiss scene actually got a controversial reaction when, according to Bustle, it was revealed in an episode of Beyond Stranger Things that the Duffer Brothers joked about making her kiss McLaughlin which “freaked her out.” Apparently, the kiss scene was brought in spontaneously by the Duffer Brothers which made her nervous. Fans were outraged thinking this filmmaking duo forced a teen girl to kiss somebody. However, The Whale actress has clarified that the Duffer Brothers didn’t force her to do anything and understood why it was important for the Snow Ball scene to feature Max and Lucas’ first kiss.

Millie Bobby Brown’s first kiss was also on the set of Stranger Things with Finn Wolfhard. A lot of Eleven’s greatest moments have had to do with Mike like when she saved him from falling off a cliff in season one and their Snow Ball dance after being apart for over a year. But, the Emmy-nominated actress has received controversy with fans for saying on Vanity Fair that Wolfhard was a “lousy kisser” and hasn’t improved since. 

Thankfully, the Ghostbusters: Afterlife actor was not offended by this as he said he understood from her perspective. Brown was a young girl having her first kiss ever on camera with everyone watching. Plus, it doesn’t help that the first time they kissed, he said practically “head-butted her.” Kissing may not be their favorite activity together, but they both have excellent on-screen chemistry. They’re a dynamic duo we can’t get enough of as Mike is the brains while Eleven is the telekinetic muscle of the group.

It’s safe to say that Sadie Sink and Millie Bobby Brown have both had their share of awkward first kisses with their co-stars while on Stranger Things. The final arc has been compared to other seasons as having a little bit of everything from each season. So hopefully amidst fighting monsters, we can still see some budding romance in there. You can watch all four seasons of the series on your Netflix subscription to get caught up before Stranger Things Season 5 premieres in the near future.

It’s official. Taylor Swift is about to enter her director era. After the recent success and awards buzz of her first short film for All Too Well, the singer is set to helm a movie based on a script she wrote herself. The movie being produced by Searchlight Pictures is completely under wraps for the time being, and while Swifties are already theorizing what it could be about, I got thinking about the cast of Taylor Swift’s upcoming movie. 

Across Taylor Swift’s over fifteen years as a famous singer, she’s amassed a ton of connections with actors, many of whom could be great picks for her directorial debut. Let’s talk about which actors linked to Swift could be great stars of her first movie. 

Emma Stone 

Taylor Swift and Emma Stone have been friends since the early days in the spotlight for each of them, as far back as 2008. Over the years, Stone has become a major movie star, finding a career that weaves between her knack for comedy and more dramatic fare, even a musical in her Oscar-winning performance in La La Land. Knowing the personality of Swift, I think Stone would fit right in to speaking the dialogue she comes up with and deliver a heck of a performance too. 

Swift Song I Imagine Emma Stone Being The Star Of: ‘Tis The Damn Season 

Blake Lively

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively have reportedly been friends since 2015, and have since continued to be besties, alongside Lively's movie star husband Ryan Reynolds. These three are so tight that Swift even named the fictional trio in her folklore album after their kids. Lively also directed Swift’s music video “I Bet You Think About Me.” I particularly would love to see Lively take a role in Swift’s first movie because she’s an underestimated actress in Hollywood. She was particularly great in The Shallows, A Simple Favor and The Rhythm Section, none of which were major hits. I believe Swift’s own writing for a character she would play might give her a truly great role she deserves. 

Swift Song I Imagine Blake Lively Being The Star Of: Betty

Miles Teller 

Another connection made via the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video is Top Gun: Maverick actor Miles Teller. Swift seems to be good friends with Teller, perhaps through his wife Keleigh Sperry for some time. Teller has repeatedly put out memorable performances of complicated men throughout his Hollywood career, and I could just see him rising to the occasion on playing a heartbreaker character (no offense my dude) that could fit right into some of the narratives Swift has already played into with her music. 

Swift Song I Imagine Miles Teller Being The Star Of: Red 

Zoë Kravitz

Many of us made unexpected connections during COVID-19, including Taylor Swift and Zoë Kravitz, who both found themselves in London during lockdown and became good friends. Kravitz had writing credits on Swift’s latest album Midnights, made a short cameo in her “Bejeweled” music video and would be a great addition to Swift’s movie. I imagine Kravitz playing a character with a chip on her shoulder who becomes central to whatever genre of storytelling Swift is going with. 

Swift Song I Imagine Zoë Kravitz Being The Star Of: Vigilante Shit

Joe Alwyn

Who better to be Swift’s on-screen muse than the man who stole her heart in real life? Joe Alwyn is the longtime boyfriend of Taylor Swift who you may have seen in Hulu’s Conversations with Friends adaptation, as well as films like The Favourite and Harriet. The actor has also co-written music with Swift under the name “William Bowery” as well. I’m honestly curious what kind of role Swift would cast her man in and what he’d bring to this kind of collaboration. 

Swift Song I Imagine Joe Alwyn Being The Star Of: Cornelia Street 

Sadie Sink 

Sadie Sink was the incredible star of Swift’s short film, All Too Well. After the work they put in on that project, I could totally see the Stranger Things actress working with the singer again on her first movie. Perhaps if the movie has a coming-of-age plotline, Sink already beautifully captured Swift’s vision that was perhaps inspired by her own teen years. I’d love to see that come to life in a longer format. 

Swift Song I Imagine Sadie Sink Being The Star Of: August 

Uzo Aduba

Back in 2015, during Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour, the singer surprised fans in New Jersey with an appearance by Orange Is The New Black star Uzo Aduba to sing with her, revealing the pair are friendly as well. Aduba is an incredible actress who has since moved on from Netflix’s prison drama to HBO’s In Treatment and a recent voice role in Lightyear. While Aduba stays booked and busy as is, a collaboration with Ms. Swift would be iconic, obviously.

Swift Song I Imagine Uzo Aduba Being The Star Of: The Last Great American Dynasty

Alana Haim

Taylor Swift and the trio of sisters in the band Haim go way back to around 2014. The group of friends have vacationed together, toured with one another and shared the stage a few times. Additionally, Haim appeared on the 2020 song “no body, no crime,” whilst Swift guested on a version of their song “Gasoline.” Recently Alana Haim in particular got awards buzz for starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, and we’d love to see Swift be behind her next big performance. 

Swift Song I Imagine Alana Haim Being The Star Of: No Body, No Crime

Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez are BFF goals already, what would happen if she cast Gomez in her first movie? The actress has particularly been killing it on Only Murders In The Building lately alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. We do wonder what kind of role she’d get to do written by someone who knows her better than just about any other filmmaker? 

Swift Song I Imagine Selena Gomez Being The Star Of: Champagne Problems 

There you have it! Taylor Swift already has a ton of actor connections, but I’d imagine she’ll do a mix of enlisting friends and making new collaborations. The singer’s movie is just one of many upcoming Taylor Swift projects including more album re-records and 2023’s Eras Tour. Swifties, there’s so much to be excited about in the near future, including eventual casting for her first movie. 

Brendan Fraser’s potentially Oscar-worthy performance has been the promotional focal point for Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. While we all couldn’t be more thrilled about the Brenaissance train moving in full force, his on-screen partner, Sadie Sink, worked hard on her complicated role in the screen-adapted drama as well. The 20-year-old star recently spoke about the impact that the movie had on her personally and the work she did on Stranger Things.

Sadie Sink plays the character of Ellie, who holds an intense amount of anger towards her father, Brendan Fraser's Charlie, for leaving her and her mother when she was young. At the same time, Sink was also busy playing Max in Season 4 of Stranger Things. On the show, her character also experienced depression and anger after the death of her brother in the Season 3 finale. While being speaking with actress Rooney Mara for Interview Magazine, Sink explained that her experience on The Whale was deeply affecting, as she viewed it as somewhat of her turning point for her personally:

That shift that Sadie Sink was talking about definitely existed in the latest season of Stranger Things, as her role definitely expanded this time around. When the actress made her debut in Season 2, her character, while entertaining, didn't get to show off too many layers. However, she became one of ST's standout characters in the fourth season due to her emotional arc, which saw her confronting her demons. It’s a shame her performance was snubbed at the Emmys as Sink really gave it her all.

Of course, one can argue that her work on The Whale was a bit more intense, from an emotional standpoint. Ellie was experiencing a level of teenage angst that the actress had arguably never portrayed before. The Fear Street star told Interview Magazine that despite Ellie being very unlikable at times and almost construed as “evil,” she had to dig deep into her to realize that this is just a person who is dealing with a lot of pain and doesn’t know what to do with it. Her work proved to be quite fruitful, considering the praise she's received.

With that experience over and Stranger Things Season 5 in the works Sadie Sink already has future plans. Sink landed her next big role in the thriller Berlin Nobody, which co-stars Eric Bana. She’ll be playing his rebellious teenage daughter. So I guess her days of playing characters who aren’t exactly people-pleasers aren't over just yet. As Sink continues to grow in the industry though, I’d like to believe that we’ll see her play a wide range of characters over time.

Ellie and Max Mayfield will certainly go down as some of her most notable characters, though. You can see Sadie Sink play the former in the 2022 movie release The Whale in theaters now. And for the latter, stream Stranger Things using a Netflix subscription.

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Brendan Fraser in his upcoming movie The Whale. The Darren Aronofsky movie was already generating 2023 Oscars buzz when it received a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival that had the actor “smiling so hard my face leaked” (it was quite the emotional reaction), and then it won the Tribute Award at the Toronto International Film Festival a week later. With the feature finally about to hit theaters December 9, the critics are putting in their two cents on the performance that many think will result in Fraser taking home the Best Actor trophy at next year’s Academy Awards. Let’s see what they’re saying.

The Whale stars Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a 600-pound man with congestive heart failure. Sadie Sink plays his daughter Ellie, whom Charlie is trying to reconnect with, and Samantha Morton, Hong Chau and Ty Simpkins also star. The critics have a lot of thoughts about the movie overall, but let’s see what they’re saying about the leading actor’s performance, starting with CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell. In his spoiler-free video review, he says this needs to be on your “must see” list ahead of the 2023 Academy Awards, because he doesn’t see anyone giving a more moving or effective performance than Fraser. O’Connell rates the film 4.5 stars out of 5, and you can check out his full breakdown below: 

Abhishek Sharma of Film Threat rates The Whale 10 out of 10, saying that Brendan Fraser adds a gentleness to the portrayal of Charlie as the movie takes audiences on a journey through several distinct levels of heartbreak. In the critic’s words:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY says the leading actor is the main reason this whole premise works, rating the movie a perfect 4 out of 4 stars. The critic calls it a “big-hearted triumph” for the Brendan Fraser, who should be expecting that Oscar nod: 

Dana Stevens of Slate, however, isn’t a fan of the movie, whose problems she says only begin with its fatphobia. Its voyeurism is thinly disguised as compassion, the critic argues, but Brendan Fraser is still “superb,” as the movie contrasts the actor’s imposing physical presence with his gentleness. The review continues: 

A lot of conversation around the film has centered around the prosthetics, and Brendan Fraser even spoke out to defend the movie’s use of a body suit. Many are saying it’s the actor who is able to make the story work, including Roger Moore of Movie Nation. He rates The Whale 3 stars out of 4, calling Fraser’s effort “the performance of a lifetime”: 

If you’re interested in getting in on the conversation surrounding Brendan Fraser’s role in The Whale, or if you’re paying attention to potential Oscar winners, you’ll likely want to catch this one when it hits the big screen on Friday, December 9. Also get more insight into the actors’ performances by checking out CinemaBlend’s interviews with The Whale stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink and more. 

With this year quickly coming to an end, you can get a look ahead at what’s hitting theaters next year with our 2023 Movie Release Schedule. 

The stars of Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” including Brendan Fraser (Charlie), Sadie Sink (Ellie), Hong Chau (Liz) and writer Samuel D. Hunter discuss their new A24 film in this interview with CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell. They discuss what happens next for Ellie, how Fraser’s acting was affected by his character’s prosthetics and more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro / Ellie’s Future Tease
00:17 - How The ‘Cumbersome’ Prosthetics Affected Brendan Fraser’s Performance
02:28 - What’s Next For Ellie, According To Sadie Sink And Brendan Fraser
05:52 - How Charlie’s Apartment Became Its Own Character
07:22 - Hong Chau’s Deeper Understanding of Liz and Charlie’s Relationship
08:45 - Brendan Frasers Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Details from the Beach Scene

From starring in the mostly well-reviewed Fear Street Part 2: 1978 to turning in a powerhouse of a performance in Taylor Swift's award-winning All Too Well: Short Film, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is having a moment. This past summer saw the actress take her portrayal of Max Mayfield to heartbreaking new levels in Season 4 of the series, making her of the standout characters of Vol. 1 in many people's eyes. And though the 20-year-old actress already has a full slate of projects, that has yet to stop rumors about Sink joining the upcoming Marvel movies. Now, the actress is finally addressing the rumors. 

While speaking with Extra to promote Dear Zoe, a tragic coming-of-age story and Sink's latest project, the actress touched on those Marvel Cinematic Universe rumors. As she explained, she has seem them, and she an honest take on how she's handling them:

It sounds like the actress is excited by the prospect of playing a superhero, but there is no truth to the MCU rumors. This may be disappointing to a swath of her fans, but the comments she went on to share during the same interview are sure to give some people hope. She continued:

If the character is a good fit, she's in! So that got me thinking Who could the actress play in the MCU? But then again, why limit ourselves to only Marvel? The Stranger Things actress may even be better served in a DC Movie.

Which Superhero Could Sadie Sink Play?

• MCU Jean Grey: Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Both the character and the actress have red hair, but it goes deeper than that. We know Marvel will eventually bring the mutants into its cinematic universe. Ms. Marvel made a key reference to their introduction so, if there's a new X-Men group, it'll need a new Jean Grey. Famke Janssen did an okay job in the original Fox Studios-produced movies, but there' still so much room to improve the character.
• MCU Rogue: There might not be a single X-Men character portrayed less accurately than their comic book counterpart than Rogue in Fox's slate mutant films. Anna Paquin is a fine actress, but it's clear that Bryan Singer and co. want to switch things up from the source material when it came to this fiery character. Though I love the notion of Keke Palmer playing part, if Palmer passes, the southern mutant could be an excellent fit for Sink. 
• Sony's Black Cat: We know Sony has a slew of Spiderman-less films in their "Spider-man Universe." A Madame Web movie (starring Dakota Johnson) and Kraven the Hunter (led by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are right around the corner. So why not bring another Spidey villain in for the fun? How about a movie starring burglar Felicia Hardy played by Sink? We know she has the chops to lead a film.
• DCU Starfire: This Teen Titan fan favorite has yet to make it to the big screen, though she is played wonderfully on the small screen by Anna Diop on HBO Max's Titans. If the teen superhero team is brought to the cinema, perhaps the Dear Zoe actress will be considered?
• Batgirl/Barbra Gordon: I, like everyone, was bummed when Warner Bros. scrapped the $70 million Batgirl film starring Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon. If the studio decided to give Babs another shot at the big screen, the Fear Street star could be great.

While there may be no truth to the actress joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this time, one can certainly hold out hope. Regardless of if (or when) she decides to throw on a cape and lace up that super suit, the actress is more than versatile and talented enough to take on any superhero role. 

The Sadie Sink-led Dear Zoe is playing in select theaters and on demand, and she'll star in The Whale, which opens on December 9 as part of the schedule of upcoming movies.

With Taylor Swift’s tenth album, Midnights, out in the world now, the singer has not only brought fans more clever, relatable and catchy songs, but a continued relationship with being the writer and director of her own music videos. Her most recent viral visual, Bejeweled, is the tenth project she’s been behind the camera for and what I believe to be the beginning of a burgeoning movie director’s discography. That’s right, I’m counting on a future Taylor Swift movie director era because girlie can’t stop and won’t stop outdoing herself. 

While songwriting will clearly always be Taylor Swift’s number one passion, and she’s had to have put in her 10,000 hours there, as the pop star has evolved as an artist over 15 years, having spent all that time as a fan of hers, it also seems to me like she’s beginning an affair with expressing herself through the medium of filmmaking. Here’s why I’m betting on Taylor Swift moving into more work in Hollywood (aside from her few movie performances here and there thus far): 

She’s Already A Talented Director 

First off, Taylor Swift has already made it known she has ambitions to direct movies, and if she says she’s going to do something, she’s going to do it. Aside from providing visuals to her music through music videos, it feels like All Too Well: The Short Film is the project where Swift made her first attempt at moviemaking. The short was met with massive acclaim, and while at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, Swift said this when asked if she’d be interested in making a feature film (via Variety): 

In All Too Well, Taylor Swift recruited The Maze Runner’s Dylan O’Brien and Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink to play a couple in a short romantic drama about a coming-of-age love story turned sour, with a highlight kitchen fight scene between the actors sending chills down many spines. Swift adapted the lyrics of her song “All Too Well” into a greater concept of lost love that spans 13 years and ends in the once-young woman catching a glimpse of her ex as she becomes a bestselling author and he wears the scarf she once abandoned. With All Too Well and the singer’s more traditional music videos, including the recent Anti-Hero music video, she’s established herself as a gifted director already, it’s only a matter of time before she does her own feature. 

Taylor Swift Has Been Telling More Stories Outside Herself 

Most of Taylor Swift’s career has revolved around her telling her own stories through song to a massive fanbase, but has often resulted in a ton of public drama and discourse, usually regarding who she’s dating or is no longer in a relationship with. However, in 2020, Swift took the spotlight off her own life to tell folklore and evermore, two quarantine albums that are greatly about fictional characters Swift made up and wrote songs about rather than drawing on her actual life. 

Within folklore, as we learned in her Disney+ concert film, Swift created a “teenage love triangle” and wrote songs from all their perspectives, with lengthy backstories for all of them among other characters she created for those albums. Seeing Taylor Swift’s career progress over the years, folklore and evermore is my personal favorite projects the artist has ever done, and I can absolutely see why she found inspiration outside herself for those works. Following those albums, I think Taylor Swift will want to return to creating ideas from scratch rather than doing every one of her projects with her own life at the center. This could also happen through her own movies, perhaps even adapting some of her own characters in her music. 

Her Growing Network Of Hollywood Friends 

Also, can we talk about how many friends Taylor Swift has who are in the Hollywood community? For Midnights alone, The Batman’s Zoë Kravitz wrote “Lavender Haze” with the singer, and Dylan O’Brien ended up doing the drums on “Snow on the Beach” purely for hanging out in the studio with her that day. Then, Laura Dern and the Haim sisters turn up in Bejeweled. Add that with other talents she hangs out with, like Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Cara Delevingne and couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds (whose kids' names were inspirations for folklore), and you already have an impressive pick for a cast. 

Taylor Swift has a real knack for bringing big names together for her visions and that would prove to be a superpower as a movie director too. It feels as though she’d have her pick of talent if she decided to put something together. Plus, I figure if so much of your circle is in Hollywood, not only at some point will an idea strike within the industry, but she’ll have such a large support system of people with experience in moviemaking that she’d likely turn up with something great. 

All The Best Filmmakers Are As Intentional As Taylor Swift Is

Let me tell you something else about Ms. Swift, girl thinks of everything. Her latest Bejeweled music video was ridden with cameos and easter eggs, as with many of her videos. She’s basically Marvel Cinematic Universe status when it comes to hinting at things (maybe even better) and that’s something that would only fondly carry over as a filmmaker. My favorite types of movies are those with intention – the kind of movie that knows what it is and goes for it all the way. That’s the type of artist Taylor Swift has proven to be over the years, and I think this part of her creativity would carry over well into being a filmmaker. 

All this being said, I don’t necessarily see the singer having her filmmaker era tomorrow. Taylor Swift’s upcoming music is plenty for now, from rolling out more from her Midnights era, delivering on all her re-release albums and finally touring after being away from the stage for big shows for the past three years. Maybe this is five, 15 or 30 years from now, but regardless, I’m counting on Taylor Swift’s movie director era. I'm absolutely convinced it's happening! 

Stranger Things took the world, and the 2022 TV schedule, by storm this summer. Between the show's popularity and with spooky season upon us, fans are adding some Stranger Things flare into their Halloween décor. In late September, a Halloween display in Plainfield, Illinois, went viral on TikTok. The Appel family recreated the fan-favorite character Max floating in the air during one of the iconic scenes from Season 4 of Stranger Things. However, the neighbors weren’t too thrilled by it. 

One of the Appel family’s neighbors requested them to close the display, because of the crowds it created. However, Dave Appel told CBS News that they have received lots of support online, and are doing what they can to keep the display up, and open to the public. Appel explained: 

The Appels posted on Facebook that they have spoken with the police department, their other neighbors, and others in the community. They noted they have made “unreal progress,” but were going to keep the display closed, because they “want the dust to settle.” They made it clear though that the display is not down or permanently closed though.

This display shows a dummy dressed as Max floating high up in the air. The illusion is pretty cool, and with the show’s popularity, it makes sense why so many people have gone to see the display. The TikTok the family posted of the display now has 1.5 million likes, you can check it out here: 

Over the summer, Sadie Sink’s character Max skyrocketed in popularity. This was because of a scene where her body is possessed by Vecna and she floats in the air. The way she is saved is by playing a Kate Bush song through her Walkman. Sink has described what it was like filming the floating scene, and her relationship with the song. While fans started using “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush in the background of TikToks, causing the song and the scene to go viral. 

I think it’s so cool these people engineered a floating Max for Halloween. While we all wait for Stranger Things Season 5 this is a cool way to keep the show in conversation, even though the neighbors don't love it. 

Along with this display, and lots of TikToks, Sadie Sink is staying in the public eye. She stars with Brendan Fraser in the upcoming 2022 movie The Whale, and she is already slated for another big movie, a thriller called Berlin Nobody. However, while we wait to see what happens next with this display and Sink’s next project, you can watch Seasons 1 through 4 of Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription.

It’s unusual to call an Oscar race over in September. Foolish, even. There are so many more awards-worthy films still to open between now and the end of the year, and few know the power of the performances that might be found in Damien Chazelle’s roaring, gluttonous Babylon, or the visual memoir that Steven Spielberg delivers in The Fabelmans. And yet, I feel very confident in telling you that no other performance will arrive between now and December that will be moving, touching, heartbreaking, and devastating enough to unseat Brendan Fraser out of the frontrunner position for Best Actor due to his role in The Whale. It’s a sympathetic, painful, and shocking performance from an actor the industry sadly forgot, and I’m telling you, it’s winning an Oscar next year. 

The Whale made its North American Premiere as part of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, following the emotional screenings it held in Venice (and the raves it generated overseas). We finally caught up with the movie, directed by Darren Aronfsky, at TIFF. And here’s why we consider The Whale to be one of the best movies you will see all year.

Brendan Fraser is extraordinary playing an unconventional character. 

Charlie (Fraser) is somewhere north of 600 pounds. He’s confined to his dimly lit apartment, where he teaches writing classes online – and leaves his laptop camera off, so as to avoid judgement from his students – sinks into his well-worn couch, and consistently orders pizzas and takeout food to be delivered to his home. Fraser wears prosthetics to play Charlie, but the work is so seamless, you can’t spot the line where the rubber ends and the actor begins. His girth is a part of his performance, and Fraser is so convincing, we feel the effort and struggle that’s exerted in every physical move the character makes. 

But it’s when Fraser is able to shine through the prosthetics necessary to play Charlie that his performance transcends the material. His voices betrays a sadness and guilt that immediately conjures compassion. His expressive eyes sometimes flash hope, even as the reality of his surroundings suggest that Charlie’s remaining time with us will be short and hopeless. While some actors might have let the prosthetics do the heavy lifting when it comes to Charlie’s enormous struggles, Fraser alone is so convincing that there are scattered moments where I even forgot he was wearing any. All I saw was the man. 

Sadie Sink deserves equal praise in The Whale. 

This movie isn’t Fraser’s show, and his show alone. Charlie needs  reason to atone before his heart loses its battle with the man’s girth, and The Whale finds it in Ellie, our lead character’s estranged daughter. 

The fractured relationship between parent and child can be dismissed as cliche – fodder for countless indie dramas that come out during awards season. But Sadie Sink, best known for playing Max in the Netflix hit Stranger Things, brings a unique fire to the role of Ellie that gives the wounded an interesting arc, and makes for a compelling foil to Fraser’s Charlie. Ellie is a raw nerve, which Sink agitates by striking it with angry, edgy choices. Ellie has a chip on her shoulder the size of her father, but in the wrong hands, the character loses all sympathy. Sink makes sure we never lose sight of the little girl hiding behind the emotional armor. I can't wait to see what this actress tackles next.

I’ll end as I started. Predicting the Oscars in September can only make you look stupid. But having seen The Whale, it’ll be the Academy that looks dumb if they leave this movie, its director, and the two main leads out of their categories at next year’s ceremony. 

More from the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival:

Steven Spielberg gets personal with The Fabelmans

Rian Johnson's Glass Onion is a superior movie to Knives Out

Billy Eichner's Bros is more sweet than funny

Watch out for Anya Taylor Joy in The Menu

Brendan Fraser is leading the race the for Best Actor Oscar this year with his role in Darren Aronofsky’s "The Whale." Managing Editor Sean O’Connell saw the film at the Toronto International Film Festival and is here with his spoiler-free review of the film's performances, including Fraser and co-star Sadie Sink, as well as the incredible direction by Aronofsky.

Video Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:54 - Give Brendan Fraser The Oscar

03:57 - Sadie Sink Shines

05:51 - One of Darren Aronofsky’s Best

07:54 - Star Rating & Outro

While Sadie Sink is best known for playing Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, she also has some notable film credits on her resume. For example, 2021 saw Sink starring in two of the Fear Street movies (which, like Stranger Things, can be viewed with a Netflix subscription), and later this year, we’ll see her acting opposite Brendan in The Whale. Ahead of that A24 flick’s wide release though, it’s been announced that Sink has landed her next big movie: a thriller co-starring Eric Bana and Blade Runner 2049’s Sylvia Hoeks.

Titled Berlin Nobody, this thriller, which also stars The Golden Glove’s Jonas Dassler and Enemy at the Gate’s Sophie Rois, is being written and directed by Cracks’ Jordan Scott and has begun production in Berlin, Germany. Inspired by the Nicholas Hogg-penned novel Tokyo, Deadline reports that this movie sees Eric Bana playing Ben Monroe, a social psychologist who moves to Berlin to continue his research into cult mentality. In the midst of this, Ben’s rebellious teenage daughter, played by Sadie Sink, becomes involved with Dassler’s character, who is described as “mysterious and enigmatic.”

Berlin Nobody was announced earlier this year and is the second feature being made through a sales partnership between Protagonist Pictures and Augenschein Sales, the first being the survival thriller The Dive. Scott Free (the production company founded by Jordan Scott’s father, Ridley Scott, and her uncle, Tony Scott), Logical Pictures, Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg and the DFFF are also involved with putting this feature together. Mad Men and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Kiernan Shipka had previously been attached to Berlin Nobody, but now she’s no longer appearing in it.

So now 2022 has become an even bigger deal for her thanks to being brought aboard Berlin Nobody. This news follows shortly after The Whale premiered at the Venice Film Festival and critics shared their thoughts about the Brendan Fraser-led movie, which will be released in theaters on December 9. Just a few months ago, Sink also scored acclaim for her performance in Stranger Things Season 4, particularly the episode “Dear Billy,” which saw Max facing off against big bad Vecna while Kate Bush’s once-again popular song “Running Up That Hill” was blasting. Sadie Sink is also leading leading the drama Dear Zoe, which will be released in select theaters and on-demand come November 4.

It may be a while until we get to see Sadie Sink’s work in Berlin Nobody, but once the release date is announced, we’ll pass that information along. Until then, you can get the lay of the rest of this year’s cinematic land by looking through the 2022 release schedule, or prepare for what you intend to watch next year with our 2023 release schedule. Sink is also returning for Stranger Things Season 5, which will be the final installment of this hit Netflix show.

Before it was even seen by critics, The Whale was already generating Oscar buzz. The drama from A24 starring Brendan Fraser is the adaptation of a play about a 600-pound man trying to reconnect with his daughter. Along with Fraser, who has delighted fans by making a career comeback, the film stars Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), Hong Chau and Samantha Morton. Critics were impressed by the first looks at The Whale, but after the movie premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, they’ve definitely got a lot more to say.

Darren Aronofsky’s latest venture has already taken a step in the right direction, if it is, in fact, going to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The movie reportedly received a 6-minute standing ovation at its premiere, and Brendan Fraser is set to accept the Toronto International Film Festival's TIFF Tribute Award — an honor that is often followed by an Academy Award nomination. So let’s get to the reviews, starting with Games Radar+’s Jane Crowther. This critic rates the movie 4 stars out of 5, saying Fraser delivers a career-best performance, and the cast around him is equally as impressive: 

Leila Latif of IndieWire grades the movie a B-, saying Brendan Fraser is the reason this movie works so well, as he’s able to deliver a performance both funny and devastating. The critic says: 

While some critics aren’t super comfortable with the movie’s use of a fat suit, BBC Culture critic Nicholas Barber is impressed at the range of expression Brendan Fraser conveys. He rates The Whale 3 out of 5 stars, saying: 

Damon Wise of Deadline also notes that Brendan Fraser’s performance and Darren Aronofsky’s direction transcend the makeup. From the review: 

Owen Gleiberman of Variety says the movie as a whole isn’t as strong as its leading actor’s performance, but for Brendan Fraser, The Whale deserves to be seen. The critic says: 

The critics seem to be in agreement about Brendan Fraser and his reintroduction to Hollywood via this movie, so it will definitely be interesting to see what recognition comes from it. Audiences still have a while to wait before being able to catch this movie in theaters. The Whale is set for theatrical release on Friday, December 9. In the meantime, check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is coming soon! 

Max Mayfield. MADMAX. Billy’s little sister. Vecna’s last victim. Whatever you want to call her, I am in love with this character. 

But, not in the romantic way. Max, played by Sadie Sink, from Stranger Things Season 4 has won my heart, and while I loved her character before, she became an all-star for me during the latest entry into the series. From her absolutely impeccable story to some of the craziest moments of this series, Max has truly been through it all.

For those who want to know - or just wants a chance to talk about this incredible character - here are my reasons why Max has become my all-time favorite character on the show. 

Her Humor Is Unbeatable 

Stranger Things has gotten eons darker than the first season of the show, and the Duffer brothers have admitted that they’ve done that for a reason. The cast (and audience) has grown up since then, and because of that, we’re diving a little deeper into territory that might be a bit scarier. 

Which is why in moments of crisis, when I get to see Max’s humor, I die of laughter every time. 

She’s always been funny - as we have seen many times before in other seasons, but there was just something about her in the record-breaking Season 4 of Stranger Things that made me laugh even harder. Like when Dustin was telling her about the Hellfire Club and she was just going along sarcastically with what he was saying, before he realized it and called her out. 

Or, when Eddie asked for a mask to cover up his face and she just hands him the Michael Myers mask from the Halloween franchise that she once used to scare the boys on Halloween years ago. 

One of my favorite moments, however, is when Dustin and Lucas are talking about the wonderful Steve Harrington’s hairy chest, and she asks for the binoculars from Lucas just so she could look at him - for an abnormally long amount of time. Same, girl, and I was crying laughing during these terrifying moments. 

She Realizes That She Needs To Face Her Trauma Head On

Max went through a lot of trauma in Season 3. While we always knew she and Billy were never close, as she talks about it multiple times throughout Season 4 of Stranger Things, she still feels heavy guilt for what happened to him, which is fully revealed in the last episode. 

While she’s trying to speak to Vecna, she confesses that she used to pray something bad would happen to Billy, and now that it did, she wished for something bad to happen to her. Deep down, however, she knew that in order to beat Vecna, to move on from this hell that she has been stuck in for months, she needed to confront her own trauma. 

She truly does have some of the most intense moments of Season 4 of Stranger Things, but the fact that she recognizes that and actively tries to move on with the help of her friends means the absolute world to me. 

Her Resilience And Bravery Are Astounding

Look, I know Max has had training in the Upside Down already in Stranger Things, but the fact that she has made it this far after going through so much hell from Vecna is astounding to me, and I can’t help but appreciate how brave this girl truly is. 

From her first escape while listening to “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, to her last moments of fighting Vecna with Eleven in her old memory of the Snow Ball dance, she didn’t back down for a single second. She kept fighting and running and doing everything she could to survive and I freaking love her resilience. 

Not for nothing, but none of the other victims of Vecna put up nearly as much of a fight as Max did. While that doesn’t make their deaths any less sad, it still goes to show how far she was willing to fight in order to make it back to her friends. Her Season 4 ending was sad, but at least we don’t need to add her to the big Stranger Things deaths list yet, right?

She Truly Cares About Her Friends The Most In This World 

Something I also really love about Max is that she does genuinely love her friends in Stranger Things. While she was a bit judgmental of who they were back in Season 2, she learned to truly care for them as if they were her family, and Season 4 showed just how much was willing to sacrifice for them to live. 

Max literally gave her own life for this plan, the injuries from her battle with Vecna killed her for just a bit, as it was only with Eleven's help that she was able to come out of there still breathing - but in a coma - at the very end. 

She wants her friends to be safe and happy and even if that meant her dying, she was willing to go there - even if she was scared in the end. Her “death” scene really got to me, and I was sobbing until she was brought back a few minutes later. But, the real question is - will Max wake up from her coma? 

Sadie Sink Truly Plays Max So Well

I know that this article is mainly talking about Max and how awesome she is, but I want to give a quick shout out to the actress behind Max, Ms. Sadie Sink. This girl is only 20, and yet she is acting circles around other people. Her ability to portray not only the humorous high schooler but the grieving teenager is impeccable. 

While Sink has been in other projects in Hollywood, such as the Fear Street trilogy, as well as Taylor Swift's short film, “All Too Well,” she has truly shined playing Max on Stranger Things, and I can’t wait to see her return for the final season. 

Stranger Things Season 5 may be some time away, but there’s no denying that I am going to be re-watching this show over and over again, and most likely cheering for Max Mayfield as I do. And, if you don’t see what I see, I suggest you re-watch this show again, because I will say it again for everyone to hear - I love Max Mayfield and no one is taking my girl from me.  

Warning: Big, juicy SPOILERS ahead for Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1. Come back when you’re caught up!

By the time viewers get through the Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 ending, several things are apparent. For one, Hawkins, Indiana is really no place for regular-ass humans, but also, we’ve now had some of our many Stranger Things queries answered about Eleven, the Upside Down, and why Vecna is hell bent on destroying lives. But, one sequence that’s brought up a lot of Stranger Things thoughts about the rest of Season 4, is the one where Max (Sadie Sink) breaks free from Vecna’s curse with her favorite song. Now, Sink has revealed the potentially mind-shattering way that she prepared for the scene, and what she thinks of the song that saved Max now.

How Did Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink Prepare For Max’s Big Scene?

Unless you’ve been hiding under a large (and hopefully quite shady) rock for several weeks now, you probably know that one of the most talked about sequences of Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 happens during Episode 4, “Dear Billy.” The episode sees Sadie Sink’s Max get pulled into Vecna’s Mind Lair so he can toy with her guilt over Billy’s death and finally take her. Unfortunately for him, the Hawkins gang has found a way out for Max via her favorite song, Kate Bush’s once again very popular ‘80s hit, “Running Up That Hill.” And, Sink told Vanity Fair that she prepared for the scene in a way that many folks would not be able to stand:

Well, this is a level of commitment to crafting a character and working on a scene that I think a lot of people would balk at, right? We’ve all had and still have favorite songs, but we’ve all probably experienced that point where we hear it and go, “Oh, OK. I may have listened to this too much now.” I tend to pull waaaay back after that, and stop playing the tune so much, so that I don’t end up hating it or suffering some sort of repetition-induced psychological break, but it’s pretty easy to see why Sink felt she had to keep listening.

Bush’s single does snap Max out of her Vecna trance, which leads to her being able to hurt the baddie just enough to run out of the Mind Lair and get back to her body. But, there’s no way of knowing if Max is totally out of danger, so every time we see her after she escapes, Max is either listening to the song or has her cassette tape and headphones at the ready so she can easily hit play in an attempt to save herself.

So, the big question now is, did Sadie Sink get sick of the powerful tune that saved Max? She continued:

Honestly, I think that there are millions of Stranger Things viewers, and music fans, everywhere who agree. We’ll be able to see if Max is fully out of trouble, and get at least some of our other Stranger Things Season 4 questions answered (I hope!) when Volume 2 (which promises to be full of chaos) hits Netflix on July 1.

Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 has arrived on Netflix after a three-year long wait as part of the 2022 TV schedule, and finally, we get to see a return to form for all of our favorite characters. While plenty of these amazing actors have been off doing their own thing in the world of movies and TV, they all came back to this show that we love so dearly - along with some new faces. 

With this new season, there have been plenty of characters that have truly won me over in Season 4, Volume 1, from some familiar faces that have been around for ages, to new Stranger Things actors and their characters that I think we’ve all fallen in love with. Here are some Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 all-stars, and why I think they deserve praise.

Max Mayfield

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Sadie Sink poured her whole entire acting ability into playing Max Mayfield during Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 4. Seriously. Out of every character that this season could have focused on, I never would have expected Max, as she always just felt like one of the gang from Season 2 onwards, but Season 4 really shined a light on her. 

Her story arc, about her depression over Billy, to the moment she’s taken under by Vecna’s curse in Episode 4, to the way she breaks out of it using her favorite song, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, and being reminded of all the happy memories that she has with her friends - everything was just so beautifully done. 

And, watching her run through Vecna’s world, all so she could reunite with the people that she cares about the most in this world - it made my heart lurch, and Sadie Sink did an absolutely phenomenal job. 

Eddie Munson 

You know, I didn’t think there could be someone else that I loved more than the awesome Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) in Stranger Things, but in Season 4, Volume 1, a new character entered the fold in the form of Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn. From the moment he stepped on the screen, I knew fans were going to eat this character up. 

Munson is such a classic dude character - he has a heart of gold but likes to portray himself as a badass game master, and his chemistry with the rest of the iconic squad makes him even more likable. Like for example, in Episode 7, he and Steve have this real deep conversation about how he’s jealous of the fact that Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) basically worships the group that Steve walks on and thinks he’s so cool, even though Dustin would never say that. 

That little conversation that he has with Steve speaks volumes about how cool of a guy he is, where he willingly shares his feelings with someone he truly thought was a jerk, after realizing Steve’s actually pretty cool. All I’m saying is that he better not get killed off in Volume 2, or I will riot. 

Jim Hopper

Look, I’ve always had a thing for David Harbour as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things. I think he’s just so dang cool in so many ways, but in Season 4, Volume 1 he really won me over as an all-star, because holy crap he was so badass in this. 

Jim Hopper in Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 reminded me of why I love the character so much, because he truly will do anything to protect his family. Just that last scene, of him and Enzo (Tom Wlaschiha) taking on the Demogorgon together, after everything they had been through, was just perfect. 

It further showed how amazing he is, along with the way he escaped earlier and literally took out soldiers by exploding a whole cabin and taking off on a snowmobile - it had me cheering on my couch. I can see why Season 4 is David Harbour’s favorite season so far.

One 

Hear me out - One is freaking terrifying, but Jamie Campbell Bower is just phenomenal as him. 

I really didn’t think that Stranger Things could scare me or shock me. I’ve seen so many big deaths in this show that I felt as if I would be immune to this sort of surprise, but leave it to One to do that. This man is truly scary because he’s so calm, yet he’s a literal psychopath. 

Just in Episode 7, where he quite literally kills every single person in Hawkins Laboratory with his powers, snapping their bones and necks and leaving a trail of horror in his wake, was so scary I truly felt as if I was in one of the best horror movies ever. He is the perfect villain because he doesn’t need to be a literal monster - though he does later become one, but that’s due to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) sending him into the Upside Down. 

What really makes him an all-star is how he doesn’t need to act like an ass. All he needs to do is show how powerful he is - and boy, oh boy, does he and more. 

Murray

Murray (Brett Gelman) has been around for some time in Stranger Things, ever since Season 2, but Season 4, Volume 1 is really where he won me over as a hilarious character. His dynamic with Joyce (Winona Ryder) was one of the main things that made me laugh, and their storyline of them traveling off to Russia in order to save Hopper was truly entertaining. 

Just Murray putting his new black-belt skills to use to take out Russian soldiers, acting as Yuri (Nikola Djuricko) in order to get into the Russian base, and everything he did in Season 4 was just stellar and I could re-watch this volume again just for his funny moments. I can’t wait to see the hilarious moments between him, Hopper and Joyce when Volume 2 releases. Thank God he was upgraded to a series regular.

Nancy Wheeler 

Nancy (Natalia Dyer) has been around since the first season of Stranger Things, and while she’s grown up steadily over the last few seasons, Season 4 is really where I started to have some serious respect for her, all because of the lines she is willing to cross as a reporter for her school’s newspaper. 

It’s not her job to investigate her classmates' murders as someone who is working with the school, but she takes it upon herself to step further into the mind of Victor Creel than any reporter before. She even enlists the help of Robin (Maya Hawke) in order to pretend to be psychology students in order to get an interview with Creel in Episode 4. 

The lengths she goes to in order to get the answers, in order to save her friends, is just astounding, and I can’t wait to see what she does next. 

Eleven/Jane Hopper

I mean, I have to add her. She’s always an all-star. Eleven has had some awesome moments on Stranger Things, but Season 4 is where she’s really gotten to shine, because now, we really know a lot more about her origin story at Hawkin’s lab. 

Even though she doesn’t have her powers for a good portion of Volume 1, we start to see flashbacks of her life from before she was friends with the group, and how she ended up being the person that sent One into the Upside Down in Episode 7, leading to him being turned into Vecna. We see how she grew in her power, what she'd done in order to survive, and so much more.

We see how she became the iconic Eleven, and I’m sure soon, we’re going to get more amazing moments from her that show just how strong her connection is to One. 

While the Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 ending was truly astounding and had me on the edge of my seat for the whole hour and a half I was watching, I’m eager to see what the next two episodes will bring - and if any more all-stars will be added to this list. Only time will tell.  

It’s almost here!

That’s right. Stranger Things Season 4 is right around the corner as part of the 2022 TV schedule, and I am so excited. While there are plenty of things to remember before Season 4, and all the major deaths that we have to anticipate, it’s sometimes hard to remember that it’s been three years since 2019, when Season 3 came out. And, the cast members of this show have been doing a lot. 

For fans of the Stranger Things cast, here is what they've all been up to in between Seasons 3 and 4. So, maybe you’ll be able to find something new to watch then in now. 

Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers)

Starting off strong, let’s take a look at Joyce Byers, the loving matriarch of Stranger Things that we all fell in love with during Season 1, played by the wonderful Winona Ryder. This actress has been in plenty of movies and TV shows in the past, and in the last three years, that hasn’t changed a bit. 

Ryder recently made an appearance in the thriller, The Cow, and also had a main role in The Plot Against America, as well as the television special, Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine. But, it won’t be long before we see her as Joyce Byers again on the small screen. 

David Harbour (Jim Hopper)

While we may all know David Harbour as Jim Hopper, the slightly gruff sheriff who became a father to Eleven and ended up “sacrificing” himself at the end of Season 3 of Stranger Things, Harbour has been very active these last few years. 

His biggest role thus far was being a part of the Black Widow cast, where he played Alexei. Some of his other big roles over the last three years was playing the titular character of Hellboy, a role in Extraction, and a part in No Sudden Move. He’s also guest-starred on many television shows, like The Simpsons, Q-Force, Big City Greens, and more. 

Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler)

You want to talk about a young man who’s been making a name for himself? Look no further than Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things. Over the last several years, Wolfhard appeared in several movies, such as reprising his role in IT: Chapter 2, had a huge part in the Ghostbusters: Afterlife cast, appeared in the movie, The Goldfinch, had another starring role in The Turning, and many others. 

He also had a main role on the Netflix reboot of Carmen Sandiego, and guest starred on many TV shows such as Smiling Friends, Home Movie: The Princess Bride, and more. 

Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven / Jane Hopper)

Arguably one of the most known names from Stranger Things is Millie Bobby Brown, who blew up after her starring role as Eleven - later known as Jane Hopper. Millie Bobby Brown has consistently proven herself a valuable actress, and has appeared in a couple of movies. 

Her biggest role was starring in Enola Holmes as the titular character, a role which she will reprise in the upcoming sequel. She also had a role in the big-time monster movie, Godzilla Vs. Kong, and had a guest spot on Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special. 

Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson)

I think everyone else has collectively decided that we all love Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things, and he could only be played by the wonderful Gaten Matarazzo. While this young actor hasn’t been in any movies since Stranger Things Season 3 came out in 2019, he’s been very active in television. 

He guest-starred on the show, Nickelodeon’s Unfiltered, and hosts his very own prank show on Netflix called Prank Encounters, and with that charming personality, it’s not surprising that he’s won the hearts of viewers through his hosting skills. 

Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair)

Moving on, now we have Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things, and he’s been quite active in both movies and TV during these three years. He appeared in two films, the sports drama High Flying Bird, and the urban western, Concrete Cowboy. He also voiced Ghost in the animated series, Summer Camp Island.

Most recently, McLaughlin had a guest spot on The Boys Presents: Diabolical, an animated spinoff of the Amazon Prime original series, The Boys, so McLaughlin hasn’t strayed too far from television. 

Noah Schnapp (Will Byers)

Will was the boy we were all looking for in Stranger Things Season 1, but now it seems that he and Eleven are going to be spending plenty of time together in California in Stranger Things Season 4, where he will continue to be played by Noah Schnapp. 

Schnapp has appeared in a few movies over the last few years, including the films Abe, Waiting for Anya, and the Netflix Adam Sandler original, Hubie Halloween. Schnapp also appeared in a guest spot on the YouTube Red comedy series, Liza on Demand. 

Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield) 

Sadie Sink is a name that I’m sure you have heard a lot over the several months. 2021 was really her year, because not only did she have a pretty big role in the popular Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street, she also had a starring role in Taylor Swift’s short film, All Too Well, based on the song that Swift wrote long ago for her album, Red. She also appeared in the movie, Eli. 

Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler)

Nancy Wheeler was one of those characters where, at first, you wanted to not like her because of how she abandoned Barb in Stranger Things Season 1, but now, after some time has passed, you can’t help but admire her persistence to want to do good and her lowkey badassery. And, she's still played by Natalia Dyer. This young actress has been putting in work over the last couple of years, appearing in a variety of movies. 

She appeared in the films, Yes, God, Yes, Velvet Buzzsaw, After Darkness, Tuscaloosa, United States vs. Reality Winner, and Things Heard & Seen. She also had a guest role on the TV series, Acting for a Cause, where she guest-starred on the episode, “Jane Eyre,” playing the titular character. 

Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers)

Another character that I genuinely liked since the beginning of Stranger Things was Jonathan Byers, the strange yet sweet older brother of Will who would do anything to keep his family safe, and who ends up being Nancy’s boyfriend in Season 2. Jonathan is played by Charlie Heaton, who has appeared in plenty of movies and TV shows over the last few years 

In terms of film, he played a part in the movie, No Future, and was a part of The New Mutants cast. He also played Jim Dagger in The Souvenir: Part II. Heaton also had a guest role on the series, Soulmates, where he appeared on the episode, “Break On Through” as Kurt. 

Joe Keery (Steve Harrington)

Oh, Joe Keery. The person that I have truly fallen for over these last couple of years, because he is just so dang funny. To fans of Stranger Things, you know Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, the character that started off as someone that we all sort of collectively didn’t like, but over the last several seasons, he’s proven just how much of a nice guy he is - and a lowkey mentor to all of the children we know and love on the sci-fi hit. 

Steve has some amazing moments and they could only be performed by Keery. I can’t picture anyone else pulling it off. Well, maybe Ryan Reynolds - whom he does co-star with in Free Guy - but that’s besides the point. 

Anyway, Keery has been in a couple of movies and TV shows, which include being a part of the Free Guy cast, as mentioned earlier, as well as appearing in the film, Spree as Kurt Kunkle. Keery also has a recurring role as Officer Ed Reinhardt in No Activity, and had a special role in two television specials on Netflix, Death to 2020 and Death to 2021, where he played Duke Goolies. You just gotta love him. 

Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley)

Last but not least, we have Maya Hawke. While she only joined Stranger Things in Season 3, her character, Robin Buckley, left an impression on audiences and quickly became a fan-favorite, and also gave us some adorable friendship moments between her and Steve, who are basically besties now. Hawke has been very active these last several years, appearing in a variety of movies and TV shows. 

She appeared in the films Human Capital, Mainstream, and Italian Studies, and even was in Fear Street: Part One: 1994. Hawke has also stepped into the TV world a bit more, appearing in the miniseries, The Good Lord Bird, where she played Annie Brown.

With Stranger Things Season 4 around the corner, one can only wonder what these amazing cast members are going to do next. Are they going to end up joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Will we see more sci-fi from them after Stranger Things comes to a close? Only time will tell. But, you can bet that no matter what, I’ll be there watching from the sidelines to see whatever they do on the big or small screen. 

Stranger Things is finally on the verge of returning to Netflix with the first new episodes in almost three years, but Season 4 won’t be more of what fans got in the first three seasons. The major characters are split between distant locations, ranging from Hawkins to California to Russia, not to mention some possible journeys to the Upside Down. There’s a lot to be excited about, but according to the stars, there’s one change that “shakes up” the show and will make fans sad. 

The cast of Netflix’s sci-fi series spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets ahead of the Season 4 premiere. When I asked how life has been different for The Party back in Hawkins with Eleven and Will off in California, Sadie Sink – who plays Max Mayfield – shared:

Although Max is one of the newer members of The Party, she bonded closely with Eleven during the course of Season 3, so El’s departure may have been harder on Max than anybody other than Mike. The absence of El and Will also comes right when the rest of the group is starting high school in Hawkins. Gaten Matarazzo weighed in on the relatability, and why fans might not be happy about it:

The Party has limited methods of communication as ‘80s high school freshman, and it’s safe to say that the distance between Hawkins and California is way too far for their walkie talkie ranges. Unless the Byers have their own tower like what Suzy had to save the day with Planck’s constant and The Neverending Story in Season 3, they probably aren’t able to keep in touch as much as they’d like. 

The early footage for Season 4 revealed that there’s another change in store for the members of The Party who stayed behind in Hawkins, with Lucas joining the basketball team. The others seem to be sticking with Dungeons & Dragons with the "Hellfire Club" rather than hitting the gym, but Lucas isn’t giving up on his friends. Caleb McLaughlin shared why Lucas wants to keep his friends despite the separation, saying:

The Party members were never exactly the most popular kids in the first three seasons, and Lucas at least isn’t going to need to take refuge in an AV room at Hawkins High. Whether or not the friendships between those who stayed behind in Hawkins survive the transition to high school – and whatever danger is in store courtesy of the Upside Down in Season 4 – remains to be seen. McLaughlin continued:

While most fans probably can’t relate to monsters (including the terrifying new Vecna) wreaking havoc in real life, the change that comes with going to high school is something that plenty of viewers have experienced. Season 4 is going to deliver a new era of Stranger Things action, after the longest break between seasons in the history of the show.

Fortunately, that break is very nearly over. Season 4 of Stranger Things – which has many critics in agreement so far – premieres on Friday, May 27 at 12:01 a.m. PT on Netflix. The fourth season will release in two volumes, with seven episodes available to start. Volume 2 will be two movie-length final episodes. You can check out the series with a Netflix subscription, and don’t forget to visit our rundown of 7 things you need to remember for Season 4.