Sadie Sink has spoken in detail about her role as Jean Grey for the first time since the premiere of "Spider-Man: A New Day." As it turned out, before Marvel's offer, the actress knew nothing about Jean and had not watched previous "X-Men" films. She was only familiar with the character's name through fan theories, in which Sink had been called a suitable candidate for the role for several years:
“Honestly, I didn’t know anything about her. For several years, there were rumors that I might play this character – that’s all my knowledge was limited to. I never watched 'X-Men.'”
Marvel did not conduct a traditional audition. Kevin Feige and studio co-chairman Louis D'Esposito invited Sink to a meeting, told her about Jean, and explained the character's role in "Spider-Man: A New Day." After the meeting, the actress began to study Jean Grey's history and quickly decided to accept Marvel's offer:
“I started reading more about her and thought, 'Yes, there's nothing to think about here.' She is an iconic figure for the 'X-Men' and comics, so I really want to show my own version of the character.”
In "Spider-Man: A New Day," Jean appears as an antagonist to the main character, but director Destin Daniel Cretton asked Sink not to approach her as an unambiguous villain. Her actions are based on past trauma, and the character herself considers her actions justified:
“I was told that I was playing a villain who isn't really a villain. So I didn't want to create a villainous aura around her. In her own mind, Jean completely justifies her actions. And, honestly, I agree with her.”
Sink kept her role a secret for over a year and arrived on set without receiving a full script. In production documents, the character was referred to by a code name, which the actress says she no longer even remembers. Despite numerous rumors and leaks, Marvel did not react to them, and even after the start of the advertising campaign, Sink was forbidden to name her character.
The secret was accidentally revealed by musician Steve Lacy, who, during an official broadcast from the world premiere, called Jean his favorite character in the film. The actress admitted that she felt relieved by the mistake:
“Honestly, it was wonderful. He freed me in many ways. Plus, I'm a big fan of his.”
Among the few who knew about the casting in advance were the creators of "Stranger Things," Matt and Ross Duffer. According to Sink, the brothers called Jean an ideal choice and supported her decision to accept the role.
Jean Grey's next confirmed appearance will be in the upcoming "X-Men" reboot. Sink is already discussing the character's future with director Jake Schreier but has not revealed how many films her contract is for.