Steve Lacy may have revealed a closely guarded Spider-Man: Brand New Day character during an unexpectedly specific red-carpet answer.
The musician, whose song “oh yeah?” appears in the movie, was asked at the Los Angeles premiere to name his favorite character without spoiling anything.
After pausing, Lacy chose someone named Jean and described her as the villain, adding that there was a reason behind her actions.
The answer immediately renewed speculation that Sadie Sink is playing X-Men character Jean Grey. Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have confirmed Sink as part of the cast but have not publicly attached a character name to her role.
The Interviewer Immediately Asked Whether He Had Spoiled the Movie
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The exchange took place during the movie’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday, July 27. “Out of all of the characters in the film you’re aware of and, without spoiling anything, who is your favorite? Or who are you most excited to see?” the interviewer asked.
“You know what? Jean,” Lacy replied, according to TheWrap. “I like Jean. She’s the villain, but there’s a reason to her madness.” The interviewer reacted with surprise and asked whether he had just revealed a spoiler.
“I like her. I like her character. I don’t know why,” he said. A representative for Lacy did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for clarification.
He Never Named Jean Grey or Sadie Sink
Online discussion quickly treated “Jean” as a reference to Jean Grey, one of the most prominent X-Men and a character frequently connected to Sink since her casting was announced.
Jean Grey possesses telepathic and telekinetic abilities and has a long association with the Phoenix Force. Famke Janssen played the character in the original X-Men film series, while Sophie Turner portrayed a younger version beginning with X-Men: Apocalypse.
There is also another Marvel character named Jean connected to the new movie. Early coverage and cast information identify Liza Colón-Zayas as NYPD detective Jean DeWolff, a longtime Spider-Man ally from the comics.
Lacy’s description of Jean as a villain appears more consistent with the mystery surrounding Sink’s role than with DeWolff’s traditional characterization.
The Production Deliberately Protected Sink’s Character
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Sony and Marvel have spent much of the promotional campaign withholding Sink’s character name. In one official video, she confirmed only that she appears in the movie and joked that she is neither Spider-Man nor Aunt May.
Cretton said the secrecy serves a specific story purpose and suggested that viewers would appreciate not knowing the answer in advance. “There’s a very real reason not to tell people who Sadie Sink is playing,” he told Rolling Stone, as quoted by GamesRadar+.
“I think you’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’m glad I didn’t know that.’” The secrecy has produced theories ranging from Jean Grey and Gwen Stacy to Mayday Parker and Rachel Summers. Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens exclusively in theaters on July 31.