Sadie Sink

Sadie Sink Spotted on Spider-Man: Brand New Day Set for the First Time

ByChristian Grullon

The internet is once again on fire, and all eyes are on Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. She has been spotted on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the fandom has exploded with theories about who she might be playing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. New photos from the London set have provided just enough visual breadcrumbs to send everyone into a detective frenzy, and the possibilities are as exciting as they are endless.

Is Sadie Sink Playing a Punisher Ally?

Sadie Sink, known for her powerful performances, is officially entering the web-slinger’s world, and the mystery surrounding her character is palpable. The initial glimpse of the actress on set, captured alongside director Destin Daniel Cretton, showed her in a large coat, but eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice her camouflage pants and combat boots. This immediately sent signals to comic book aficionados, leading to some compelling and well-supported theories.

IGN noted the immediate connection fans made, stating, “Coupled with the fact that Frank Castle will co-star in Brand New Day, some fans have suggested Sink is playing Rachel Cole-Alves, a redheaded comic book accomplice of The Punisher who has also worked to help Spider-Man.” Her distinctive red hair and the military-style attire seen in the first photos line up perfectly with this character, making it a strong and thrilling possibility.

One of the most exciting developments for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the confirmed appearance of Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. This detail adds significant weight to the theory that Sadie Sink could be portraying Rachel Cole-Alves. For those unfamiliar with the comics, Cole-Alves is a former Marine whose life is shattered by tragedy, leading her down a path of vengeance where she crosses paths with The Punisher.

 The thought of Sadie Sink’s character teaming up with both Spider-Man and The Punisher creates a dynamic that would be electrifying to see on screen. Just as fans began to settle on this idea, subsequent photos threw a wrench in the works. Sink was later seen in a completely different outfit—a black and yellow jacket with blue jeans. This costume change has cast doubt on the Cole-Alves theory, leaving the door wide open for other interpretations.

Sadie Sink Could Be a New Love Interest for Peter Parker

With the Rachel Cole-Alves theory now on shaky ground, fans have pivoted to another intriguing possibility rooted in the film’s title. The Brand New Day comic book storyline is a pivotal moment for Peter Parker. In this arc, his marriage to Mary Jane Watson is erased from history, and the world forgets he is Spider-Man. This creates a clean slate for Peter, introducing new challenges and, importantly, new relationships.

This is where the character Carlie Cooper comes into play. In the comics, Cooper is a forensic scientist for the NYPD and becomes a significant love interest for Peter during the Brand New Day era. She’s also a redhead. This connection feels almost too perfect to ignore. Also, fans have theorized that the actress could be playing Firestar, or a new and MCU version of X-Men star Jean Grey.  CinemaBlend noted that one user from X @EuRubs, “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.”

Given that the film is adopting this very title, introducing Carlie Cooper would be a direct and meaningful nod to the source material. Of course, you can’t talk about a famous redhead in the Spider-Man universe without mentioning Mary Jane Watson. While Zendaya brilliantly portrays “MJ” in the current MCU trilogy, her character’s name is Michelle Jones-Watson, a fresh take on the classic love interest.

With the multiverse now a core concept in the MCU, some fans are wondering if Sadie Sink could be playing an alternate-universe version of the traditional, comic-accurate Mary Jane. It’s a tantalizing thought, but perhaps a bit of a long shot. The more likely scenario is that Marvel is aware of the actress’s resemblance to the iconic character and is using her red hair as a deliberate misdirect to keep everyone guessing. The studio loves to play with fan expectations, and this could be a classic case of hiding the truth in plain sight.

Final Thoughts

For now, all fans can do is wait, watch, and continue to theorize until Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, 2026. One thing is sure: Sadie Sink’s addition to the MCU is going to be something special.

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