Sadie Sink’s arrival in the Marvel universe adds another surprising chapter to the growing connection between Stranger Things and superhero cinema. The actress, known worldwide for her role as Max Mayfield in Netflix’s hit series, becomes the fourth Stranger Things actor to appear in a Marvel project.



From the mutant world of The New Mutants to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest upcoming events, several stars from the Hawkins universe have found new paths inside Marvel’s expanding franchise…



<h2>Which Stranger Things actors have appeared in Marvel projects?</h2>



Sadie Sink became the fourth actor from Stranger Things (2016) to appear in a Marvel project, following Charlie Heaton, David Harbour and Joseph Quinn. From The New Mutants to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the connection between Netflix’s hit series and Marvel has continued to grow through some of its most recognizable stars.



The first Stranger Things actor to join a Marvel project was Charlie Heaton, who portrayed Jonathan Byers in the Netflix series before taking on the role of Sam Guthrie, also known as Cannonball, in The New Mutants (2020). 



Although the film was released before Marvel Studios fully integrated the X-Men characters into the MCU, it marked the beginning of the franchise crossover involving the show’s cast.



David Harbour became the second major link between both universes when he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Alexei Shostakov, better known as Red Guardian, in Black Widow (2021). 



The actor, who plays Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, continued his Marvel journey by returning as the character in Thunderbolts (2025) and is also set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).



Joseph Quinn expanded the connection after his breakout performance as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things season 4. The actor joined Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) as Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch, and will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).



Now, Sadie Sink adds another chapter to this unexpected crossover. The actress behind Max Mayfield joins Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Marvel continues to keep her character under wraps, making her debut one of the most discussed additions to Tom Holland’s next adventure.

Sadie Sink’s Marvel Debut Continues Stranger Things’ Surprising MCU Connection

Sadie Sink’s Marvel Debut Continues Stranger Things’ Surprising MCU Connection - Spoiler US

thumbnail

Today, the industry raises a glass to the girl who made telekinesis cool and shaved heads a high-fashion statement. Born on February 19, 2004, Millie Bobby Brown enters her 22nd year at a historic peak. In early 2026, the dust is still settling from the massive series finale of Stranger Things, which premiered just weeks ago on New Year’s Eve.



Millie’s journey from a 12-year-old discovery to the front-row regular at Paris Fashion Week has been a masterclass in modern stardom. Whether she’s leading the Enola Holmes franchise or running her multi-million dollar beauty empire, Florence by Mills, Millie has successfully navigated the “child star” curse to emerge as a respected producer and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.



<h3>The Impact of Eleven: A Cultural Reset</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/02/19104322/Millie-Bobby-Brown-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-86022"><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



It is impossible to discuss Millie’s career without acknowledging the seismic shift caused by Eleven. When Stranger Things debuted in 2016, Eleven wasn’t just a character; she was a phenomenon. Millie’s performance was hailed for its “silent intensity,” proving that a pre-teen could carry a high-concept horror epic using little more than her eyes and a slight tilt of the head.



Eleven redefined the “hero” archetype for Gen Z, blending vulnerability with raw, destructive power. She made it okay for girls to be messy, angry, and powerful—all while wearing a pink dress and a blonde wig. The character’s influence on pop culture is so deep that by 2026, the “Eleven” look remains one of the most recognizable Halloween costumes and cosplay icons in the world, a testament to the character’s permanent residency in the zeitgeist.



<h3>The Legacy Beyond Hawkins: A Producer in the Making</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/02/19104327/Millie-Bobby-Brown-2-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-86023"><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



As she turns 22, Millie’s impact is increasingly felt behind the scenes. She famously became one of the youngest people ever to be credited as a producer on a major film with the Enola Holmes series, where she injected a feminist, Fourth-Wall-breaking energy into the Sherlock Holmes mythos.



In 2026, her professional portfolio is expanding into more mature territory. Fresh off the release of her 2025 fantasy-epic Damsel and her upcoming turn in the Russo Brothers’ The Electric State, Millie has proven she doesn’t need a superpower to command the screen. Critics are already eyeing her for more prestige drama roles, noting that her “post-Hawkins” era is focused on gritty, auteur-driven projects that showcase the technical precision she’s spent a decade perfecting.

Millie Bobby Brown Turns 22: The Impact of Stranger Things’ Eleven

Millie Bobby Brown Turns 22: The Impact of Stranger Things' Eleven - Spoiler US

It has been 3,455 days since the world first met Eleven and the boys of Hawkins, and tonight, that journey finally reaches its destination. Today marks the end of Stranger Things, the global phenomenon that redefined the streaming era and launched a new generation of superstars. As fans prepare to ring in the New Year with a two-hour-and-eight-minute finale titled “The Rightside Up,” the stakes have never been higher. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/31101830/Stranger-Things-3-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-81878"></figure></div><figcaption>David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown in Chapter Four: Sorcerer (2025) Stranger Things / IMDb</figcaption></figure>



Executive producer Shawn Levy has spent the week assuring the “Stranger” faithful that the landing has been stuck, describing the final chapter as a profound emotional journey. However, the road to the end hasn’t been without its bumps; even as excitement peaks, the penultimate episode has sparked intense debate, setting a surprising new record for the series on social platforms and review aggregates alike.



<h3>Shawn Levy Promises a “Satisfying” Masterpiece</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/31101459/Stranger-Things-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-81877"></figure></div><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



Director and executive producer Shawn Levy has been vocal about the quality of the final episode, which is making history today with a simultaneous debut on Netflix and in over 500 theaters across North America. Levy has officially dubbed the finale a “masterpiece,” stating that he was “wrecked” after viewing the final cut. According to Levy, the Duffer Brothers have crafted an ending that provides outcomes that are “deeply satisfying, but many of which are completely surprising.” He emphasized that after nine years of investment, the goal was to avoid a “tone-deaf” ending, ensuring every character’s journey feels earned and emotionally resonant.



<h3>The IMDb Low: A Divisive Penultimate Chapter</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/31101136/Stranger-Things-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-81875"></figure></div><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



In a shocking twist just days before the finale, the series hit an unexpected low point. Episode 7 of Season 5, “The Bridge,” has officially become the lowest-rated episode in Stranger Things history on IMDb. With a current rating of 5.4/10, it has dipped below the long-controversial Season 2 episode, “The Lost Sister” (6.0). While critics have pointed to repetitive writing and a perceived “melodramatic” tone in the final act, many analysts believe the episode was the victim of coordinated review-bombing following a pivotal scene where Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) officially came out. Despite the score, the episode has seen some of the highest engagement in the show’s history, proving that even a “low” point for Stranger Things is a massive cultural event.



<h3>A “Completely Different” Future: The Spin-Off</h3>



While the story of Mike, Eleven, and the Hawkins gang ends today, the Duffer Brothers have confirmed that the franchise will live on—just not in the way fans might expect. The creators have officially teased a live-action spin-off that they describe as a “completely different story in a completely different location with completely different actors and characters.” 



Ross Duffer clarified that the new project will not be a “continuation” of the current storylines but will instead explore the wider mythology of the Stranger Things universe in a different decade. This “fresh start” approach is intended to preserve the emotional weight of today’s finale while allowing the brand to evolve into something entirely new.

The End of an Era: 'Stranger Things' Concludes After 9 Years

The End of an Era: 'Stranger Things' Concludes After 9 Years - Spoiler US

The response to Stranger Things’ last season was so monumental that it did what few shows ever can: it briefly crashed Netflix itself. Fans worldwide, desperate to dive back into the mysteries of Hawkins, flooded the platform, causing widespread reports of outages and buffering.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/11/27093931/Stranger-Things-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-78737"></figure></div><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



This unprecedented demand is a testament to the show’s enduring cultural impact, proving that Stranger Things remains Netflix’s crown jewel and arguably the most influential series of the streaming era.



<h2>The Impact: A Global Phenomenon</h2>



From its debut in 2016, Stranger Things became more than just a TV show; it’s a global phenomenon that revitalized 80s nostalgia, launched the careers of its young stars, and proved the power of binge-watching. Each new season has been a massive event, breaking streaming records, but the initial response to Volume 1 of its final season has been unlike anything seen before, underscoring the fervent dedication of its massive fanbase.



<h2>The Beginning of the End: What Season 5, Volume 1 Delivers</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/11/27093319/ST-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-78734"></figure></div><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 comprises four episodes, each running approximately 60 to 80 minutes. The season picks up immediately after the devastating events of Season 4, with the Upside Down having fully breached Hawkins and Vecna’s influence threatening to engulf the entire world.



This first volume plunges our beloved characters – Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will (Noah Schnapp), Max (Sadie Sink), and the older gang of Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and Robin (Maya Hawke) – into their final, desperate battle.



<h2>A Fitting Send-Off</h2>



The sheer volume of viewers that briefly overwhelmed Netflix underscores the global anticipation for this final chapter. Stranger Things has not only dominated pop culture for nearly a decade but has consistently delivered high-quality, suspenseful, and emotional storytelling. As the final battle against the Upside Down begins, Volume 1 of this epic conclusion has already cemented its place in streaming history, leaving fans desperate for the highly anticipated Volume 2.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/11/27093418/ST-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-78735"></figure></div><figcaption>IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<h3>When Will the Other Episodes Be Released?</h3>



Volume 2 (3 Episodes): Releases on December 25, 2025



The Series Finale (Episode 8): Releases on December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve)

'Stranger Things' 5, Volume 1 Release Sparks Masive Demand and Briefly Crashes Netflix

'Stranger Things' 5, Volume 1 Release Sparks Masive Demand and Briefly Crashes Netflix - Spoiler US

Latest news from stranger things. Find out about all the news related to stranger things on spoiler.bolavip.com/en

stranger things

Sadie Sink’s Marvel Debut Continues Stranger Things’ Surprising MCU Connection

Millie Bobby Brown Turns 22: The Impact of Stranger Things’ Eleven

The End of an Era: 'Stranger Things' Concludes After 9 Years

'Stranger Things' 5, Volume 1 Release Sparks Masive Demand and Briefly Crashes Netflix

Receive the latest news in your E-mail box