In 2026, Spider-Man enthusiasts have multiple exciting projects to look forward to, including the much-anticipated return of Peter Parker played by Tom Holland in the MCU film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Alongside this, the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is set to release its second season later this year. However, the most captivating installment might be Spider-Noir, a live-action series on Prime Video and MGM+ featuring Nicolas Cage as the voice and face of a darker, more layered take on the web-slinger. This series reimagines Spider-Man through a gritty noir lens, offering fans an intense, stylized narrative centered on a unique Spider-Man character.
A Gritty Noir Twist on the Spider-Man Mythos
Spider-Noir distinguishes itself by focusing on Ben Reilly rather than Peter Parker as the Spider-Man figure—a departure that creates a compelling identity struggle for a character traditionally framed as a clone. Set in the 1930s, Reilly is portrayed as a down-and-out private investigator who has left behind his superhero days as The Spider following a deeply personal heartbreak. When a high-stakes case emerges, New York’s sole defender must return to action, embodying Cage’s idea of a spider masquerading as a human. The show’s tone is built around this tension between Reilly’s true nature and the facade he must maintain.
That trailer is great. They did a wonderful job. He’s amazing. He had this great idea, which was, ‘I want to play this like a spider pretending to be a person.’
— Phil Lord, Executive Producer
Christopher Miller expanded on Cage’s concept, explaining,
Like, ‘After what happened to me, I’m more spider than person, and I have to act like a human in public, and in private I can be my true self.’
— Christopher Miller, Executive Producer
Phil Lord further described how the character’s outsider status influences his behavior and coping mechanisms:
So he sometimes goes to the movies, his character, and practices and studies what the actors are doing so he can use it in his real life.
— Phil Lord, Executive Producer
Capturing the Essence of Classic Noir with a Modern Twist
True to its name, Spider-Noir serves as a loving homage to traditional film noir detective stories, incorporating stylistic elements such as black-and-white visuals and a custom “Technicolor” hybrid style dubbed ‘true hue.’ According to Phil Lord, the production team shot the series with black and white in mind but also created this distinctive color style to enrich the viewing experience.
We shot it natively with black and white, and then after the fact, for fun, we created this weird sort of Technicolor hybrid thing that we call ‘true hue,’
— Phil Lord, Executive Producer
We basically create our own weird, old-timey color style, and so you get to watch it twice if you want.
— Phil Lord, Executive Producer
The trailer visually seals the series’ commitment to noir aesthetics, featuring classic elements like stark shadows, Dutch angles, and atmospheric lighting, all integral to the storytelling rather than merely decorative. Directors with an appreciation for the genre, including Harry Bradbeer (known for Enola Holmes), contributed their expertise to faithfully deliver the ambiance and intensity fans of noir narratives expect.
Every director was very excited, too, and were noir aficionados, and had been dying to do something like this. It was an opportunity to do something artistic with shadows and Dutch angles and all the crazy things that you associate with noir, but people also sometimes just do it as, like, a filigree, and this was like the heart of it, the storytelling, was there.
— Christopher Miller, Executive Producer
Possibility of Spider-Noir Returning for More Seasons
Spider-Man noir has roots dating back to the 2009 Marvel Noir comics, providing a rich background for this adaptation. When asked if Spider-Noir would remain a standalone project or evolve into a continuing series, Phil Lord left the possibility open.
A Spider-Man thing telling more than one story? I don’t know,
— Christopher Miller, Executive Producer
Reacting with humor, Miller replied,
Impossible!
Lord laughed and retorted,
It cannot be done!
The lighthearted exchange suggests that while the future is unconfirmed, the potential for additional seasons remains a tantalizing prospect for fans and creators alike.
Project Hail Mary Highlights Lord and Miller’s Upcoming Film Work
Alongside their involvement with Spider-Noir, executive producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are preparing to release Project Hail Mary, an anticipated sci-fi film adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel. The story follows Ryland Grace, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, who awakens light-years from Earth with no memory and faces the task of saving the sun from an unknown threat. Once a science teacher, Grace’s isolated mission is complicated by his gradual recollection of why he is there and the realization that he might not be alone.
Directed by Lord and Miller from Drew Goddard’s screenplay, Project Hail Mary features an ensemble cast including Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub, adding weight to this high-stakes space adventure.
Release Information and Cast Details for Spider-Noir
Spider-Noir is scheduled to premiere on MGM+’s linear broadcast channel on May 25 before all episodes become available for streaming on Prime Video starting May 27. The series stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, the noir Spider-Man detective, with Lamorne Morris as Robbie Robertson, Brendan Gleeson, and Abraham Popoola rounding out the cast. This unique blend of a superhero story with noir detective drama is poised to captivate audiences looking for a fresh, intense take on Spider-Man’s world.
