Nicolas Cage can definitely do whatever a spider can — in both black-and-white and color.
Prime Video just dropped two versions of the latest trailer for its upcoming live action Spider-Noir series ahead of its May release. Like the series itself, you can view the web-slinging action in “Authentic Black & White” and/or “True-Hue Full Color.”
Either way, you’ll be treated to a look at a gumshoe who catches thieves just like flies. Adapted from the Spider-Man: Noir comic book series, Spider-Noir stars Nicolas Cage as a 1930s film noir version of Spider-Man, complete with a fedora and and a penchant for hanging out on rain-soaked rooftops. Cage was previously glimpsed in similar garb for the 2018 animated blockbuster, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, although the series is not directly based on that franchise.
“The ticks, thoughts, impulses, I manage to suppress them… most of the time,” Cage says early on in the trailer, referring to those “Spidey sense” tinglings that accompany transformative spider bites. We then see what happens when he doesn’t suppress them — namely bar fights and swinging through Manhattan’s skyscraper canyons.
Watch both versions of the trailer and read on for everything else you need to know about Spider-Noir.
What’s it about?
Swing back to 1930s New York where retired superhero Ben Reilly (Cage) has traded his identity as The Spider for a job as a down-on-his-luck private eye following a personal tragedy. But duty demands that he dig his Spider duds out of the closet to investigate a new case in a city that desperately needs a hero.
Spider-heads know, of course, that “Ben Reilly” is a storied name in the larger Spider-Verse, first introduced during the infamous “Clone Saga” from the mid-’90s. The Spider-Man Noir comics featured a ’40s version of Peter Parker, so expect plenty of speculation for why Cage is playing Reilly instead of Peter.
Who else is involved?
Besides Cage, the Spider-Noir cast includes New Girl‘s Lamorne Morris as Daily Bugle journalist Robbie Robertson, who also happens to be Ben’s good pal; Sinners star Li Jun Li as Cat Hardy, a nightclub performer who shares a surname with the alter ego of a certain feline vigilante (and Spider-Man love interest); and The Hunting Wives star Karen Rodriguez as Ben’s secretary, Janet; and Oscar-nominated actor Brendan Gleeson as a yet-to-be-revealed villain. Notable guest stars will include Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Amy Aquino, and Kai Caster.
Behind the camera, the series is overseen by co-showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot; Emmy-winning director Harry Bradbeer helmed the first two episodes and also serves as executive producer; and, of course, Lord and Miller are onboard as executive producers.
What are its awards hopes?
Both Spider-Verse movies spun their web on Oscar voters, scoring nominations for Best Animated Feature with the 2018 franchise-launcher winning that category. While Spider-Noir has to overcome the hurdle that comic book-based series often face at the Emmys, the cinematography and special effects are sure to get attention. And the idea of releasing both “Authentic Black & White” and “True-Hue Full Color” versions of the series allows viewers (and voters) can appreciate both visual styles.
When can I see it?
Spider-Noir lands on MGM+ on May 25 followed by a global release Prime Video on May 27 to tide us over until Beyond the Spider-Verse swings into theaters (finally) in 2027.
Updated April 25 with new trailer.
