The highly anticipated Spider-Noir TV series is set to premiere with a unique twist for fans, offering both black and white and color viewing options. This innovative approach aims to capture the essence of classic film noir while providing a fresh take on the Spider-Man saga. The series will follow the story of Ben Reilly, a private eye who moonlights as a superhero, portrayed by acclaimed actor Nicolas Cage.
Spider-Noir is slated to debut on the MGM+ linear channel in the United States and will be available globally on Prime Video. The narrative promises to stay true to its comic book origins while introducing new elements to enrich the Spider-Man universe. Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot serve as co-showrunners, ensuring that the series maintains alignment with its original source material.
Esteemed director Harry Bradbeer will helm the first two episodes, doubling as an executive producer. Meanwhile, Lukas Haas has joined the cast in a mysterious role, adding intrigue to the unfolding storyline. The supporting cast features notable talents such as Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Abraham Popoola, Li Jun Li, and Jack Huston, among others.
"Everybody involved was amazing. Brendan Gleason, he plays my boss. Just getting to, to do that noir thing. It was very genuine film noir, the way they filmed it, like the long shadows," said Lukas Haas.
Production for Spider-Noir is already underway, with set photos hinting at a distinctive new spin on Spider-Man. The visual style is reportedly capturing the authenticity of old 1930s film noir through meticulous filming techniques.
"We filmed it in – I think it may come out in both black and white and color, but when we filmed it, the monitors were all black and white, so you got this feeling and it looked very, very authentic. To the point that I would actually go and look at the monitor and think I was looking at some older footage, but it was actually just a monitor of what was on the camera at the time," Haas noted.
"They did a beautiful job with the filters and all that stuff, making it look like genuine old 1930s, black and white film," he added.
This series marks a significant milestone as the first TV series to feature Spider-Man. It is crucial for Sony to see success with Spider-Noir, especially after facing criticism for its Marvel movie ventures like Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter. As fans eagerly await its release, questions remain about the reasoning behind naming the character after Ben Reilly's clone.
The allure of the show extends beyond its storyline, with its stylistic choices potentially setting a new standard for superhero adaptations. The combination of a stellar cast, expert direction, and adherence to comic lore positions Spider-Noir as a standout entry in the superhero genre.