The first season of Spider-Noir dropped on Prime Video on May 27, 2026, and viewers have already binge-watched all eight episodes. The show stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a worn-out private detective in 1930s New York who used to be a crime-fighter called The Spider. The finale, titled “The Man in the Mask,” wrapped up several storylines while leaving the door open for more cases.
Cage spoke with Variety about the ending, the movie references he used, and whether he will return for a second season. The Oscar-winning actor also opened up about the challenges of working on his first TV series.
Ben Reilly Walks Away From Love In The Finale
The last episode brings together all the main characters for a final fight. Cat Hardy (Li Jun Lee) tries to fix her past mistakes by bringing an antidote that can remove the superpowers from Flint Marko/Sandman (Jack Huston) and Dirk Leydon/Megawatt (Andrew Lewis Caldwell). But crime boss Finn Byrne/Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson) wants the antidote for himself.
A big twist happens when Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris) puts on The Spider costume to distract the bad guys. The plan works for a while, but Dirk eventually destroys the antidote. A huge street battle follows, and Cat shoots Silvermane dead inside his club.
The most emotional moment comes at the end. Ben has one last chance to use the antidote on himself and finally get rid of his spider powers. But he chooses to give it to Flint instead, so Flint and Cat can live a normal life together.
“I think Ben Reilly knows it’s useless. Cat doesn’t love him, it’s as simple as that,” Cage explained. “Am I gonna be the guy who keeps pursuing someone that’s not interested? No.”
Cage said Ben has carried guilt ever since he could not save his wife Ruby. “Here he is, this person with powers, and he couldn’t save his favorite person, Ruby, so what’s the use? He has great remorse. But he has a higher calling, and he’s owning it.”
Cage Used Classic Movies To Shape His Performance
Cage said he watched old films to create the character. He looked at Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep and Orson Welles’ The Lady from Shanghai for inspiration.
“Howard Hawks always has this kind of fast-paced repartee, and specifically in The Big Sleep. I wanted to bring that old movie star style of acting from the ’30s and ’40s,” Cage said. He talked about Humphrey Bogart’s character who would laugh when seeing someone do something bad. “I wanted to bring that energy to Ben Reilly.”
The finale includes a clear nod to The Lady from Shanghai. Cat enters a hall of mirrors to face Silvermane, just like the famous scene in the 1947 movie.
Cage also pointed to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi as an influence. In one scene, The Spider gets zapped by Megawatt’s electrical powers, similar to how the Emperor attacks Luke Skywalker.
TV Acting Was A Learning Curve For The Oscar Winner
Spider-Noir marks Cage’s first leading role in a television series. He said the switch from movies to TV took some getting used to.
“What’s different about television, and I’m a student and want to learn things, is that the director of photography sets up the shot with the stand-in, and you don’t have the time to really rehearse it — they gotta get that shot — so as an actor, I’ve got to find out a way to get to that shot that makes sense for my character,” he explained.
He compared it to making a movie. “In a movie, you bring the actors in and you’re with the DP and you all talk it through, and it’s not quite like that with television because of the time constraints. It was a bit of a learning curve. In the first episode, I was like, ‘What is going on?’ ‘What is this?!’ It’s a little more factory, and you have to adjust.”
Cage also had to work with several different directors over the eight episodes. “The other big difference, obviously, is that you get in step with a director and then two episodes later, you have a new director,” he said. “You wonder, ‘Are we going to gel?’” He said he was lucky because each director brought something different, and they formed a “nice creative coalition.”
Season 2 Talks Are Happening But Nothing Is Official Yet
As of May 30, 2026, Prime Video and MGM+ have not officially renewed Spider-Noir for a second season. But Cage revealed that early conversations about the next chapter are already happening.
“I do not know,” Cage said when asked directly about returning. “But I would say that whether it happens or not, all of us achieved what we set out to do, and it works on its own. We’ll see what happens.”
Cage also mentioned that he has heard “inklings” about where Ben Reilly’s story could go next. He said a potential season two could take the character to other countries. “To see how he interacts with different cultures and different countries, whether it’s South America or Asia or Europe. That could have some richness to it.”
The show’s creators are also interested in making more episodes. Oren Uziel, the showrunner, told SFX Magazine that he would like to set a second season during World War II. He called the war an “amazing canvas” for more stories. Producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord have also said they “would be happy to do more.”
The finale ends with Ben and his secretary Janet Ruiz (Karen Rodriguez) opening their own detective agency called “Reilly and Ruiz Investigations.” The phone rings, and Janet answers, setting up the possibility of new cases.
Critics And Fans Give The Show High Marks
Spider-Noir has received strong reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 90% score from critics and over 90% from audiences. The Guardian gave it four stars, calling it “fast, witty and confident.” Empire awarded five stars and described the show as “absurdly brilliant.”
Not every review was positive. Variety called the series “all style and very little substance,” and The Hollywood Reporter said it was a “disappointment.” But most viewers disagree.
Fans on social media have been praising Cage’s performance and the show’s unique look. One person wrote on X: “Literally only 3 minutes into #SpiderNoir and I am HOOKED! The visuals are stunning, the tone is dark, and Nic Cage’s performance is perfection.” Another said: “Spider Noir is EXCELLENT. LOVE watching in BLACK and WHITE. The camera angles, music and dialog is classic HOLLYWOOD.”
The series is available in two versions: Authentic Black & White and True-Hue Full Color. Viewers can choose which style they prefer.
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What Happens To The Other Characters
The finale ties up several stories. Robbie Robertson does not go back to the Daily Bugle, where his reporting was controlled. Instead, he becomes editor in chief of a new paper called the Harlem Herald. His final conversation with Ben on a fire escape shows both men finally at peace.
Flint Marko survives thanks to the antidote. He and Cat Hardy are shown together at Silvermane’s funeral, suggesting they have reunited. Ben still does not fully forgive Cat for her betrayals, but he understands why she made her choices.
Tombstone (Abraham Popoola) gets cured of his powers earlier in the episode and is no longer a threat.
The series is streaming now on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In the United States, it also airs on MGM+. All eight episodes dropped at once, so viewers can watch the full story without waiting week to week.
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