Nicolas Cage‘s Marvel series premiered with a 47-minute noir thriller that throws its hero into a web of fire-wielding assassins, sand monsters, and mob bosses.
The first episode of Spider-Noir arrived on May 25, 2026 on MGM+ in the United States. Global audiences on Prime Video got the show on May 27, 2026 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. Viewers in the UK can stream starting 8 AM BST on May 27. Canada and Australia also get access through Prime Video on the same date. The series is available in two viewing options: Authentic Black & White and True-Hue Full Color.
The show introduces a different kind of Spider-Man story. This version is set in 1933 New York City during the Great Depression. Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly, a private investigator who used to be a superhero called The Spider. But that was five years ago, before everything fell apart.
Ruby’s Death Broke The Spider For Good
The episode opens with Ben talking about his past. He remembers swinging through the city, stopping criminals, being the hero everyone needed. But then came Ruby. She was the love of his life. She gave him the famous words: with great power comes great responsibility. Ben planned to marry her in the spring. He had the ring ready.
Then Ruby died. She drowned, and The Spider could not save her. Ben blames himself completely. He says the Spider failed her. After her death, he gave up the mask and the suit. He buried them in the wall of the apartment he shared with Ruby. For five years, he has been trying to live as a normal man, working small detective cases and trying to forget who he used to be.
Two Detectives Chase The Same Target
The present-day story begins with Ben following a man named Addison through the city. Another man hits Ben with a car during the chase. That man turns out to be Patrick Donegal, another private investigator. They soon realize someone named Winston hired both of them to find Addison.
The chase ends at the Standard Oil Company factory. Donegal corners Addison, but something strange happens. Addison’s hands catch fire. He has powers. Donegal shoots Addison multiple times. The flames from Addison’s body ignite spilled oil, causing a massive explosion. Ben pulls Donegal to safety and saves his life.
The explosion kills Addison. But his body shows no burn marks at all. Only the bullet wounds remain. This detail bothers Ben, and he asks his journalist friend Robbie Robertson to hold off on printing the story.
A Cheating Husband Case Goes Wrong
While dealing with the Addison mess, Ben takes another job. A man named Mr. Carmedy hires him to follow his wife. He thinks she is having an affair. Ben tracks the wife to a hotel called The Redcliff. He climbs to the roof using the fire escape and watches through a window.
Inside, he sees the wife with an older man. The man gets rough and tries to assault her. Ben cannot just watch. He shoots a web at the man’s hand, stopping him. The wife escapes. Later, Ben develops the photos he took. He discovers the man attacking her is Mayor Alfred Morris of New York City.
Ben lies to Mr. Carmedy. He returns his money and says the wife was alone. Ben wants nothing to do with blackmailing the mayor. But his assistant Janet has a different idea. She suggests selling the photos to the woman instead. That woman, Ben learns from Robbie, is Cat Hardy. She sings at The Alcove, a club owned by mob boss Silvermane.
Silvermane Does Not Leave Witnesses
Ben and Donegal follow Winston after he threatens Ben with a gun in his office. Winston leads them straight to Silvermane’s estate. They overhear Silvermane talking about Addison’s fire powers. The mob boss wants to know who hired Addison to burn down his mansion.
Donegal sees this as a chance to get rich. He wants to shake down Silvermane for money using the information about Addison. Ben refuses. He warns Donegal that messing with Silvermane is too dangerous. Ben wants to walk away.
But Silvermane’s men have already grabbed Donegal. They take him to a basement under The Alcove. Silvermane questions him about Addison. Donegal admits he shot Addison and that the man had powers. Silvermane then slits Donegal’s throat. He orders his men to find Addison’s body at the morgue and to bring in the other investigator Ben Reilly.
Flint Marko Shows His True Nature
At The Alcove, Ben approaches Cat Hardy. He shows her the photos and offers to sell the negatives. Cat’s bodyguard Flint Marko steps in and throws Ben out. But Marko does not stop there. He follows Ben through the streets.
Ben leads Marko to an abandoned building under construction. Marko grabs Ben, carries him to the roof edge, and threatens to drop him. Ben fights back. He hits Marko with a two-by-four and knocks him down. But Marko gets back up. His skin starts turning into sand. He punches Ben off the building.
Ben shoots a web and swings back up to the roof. He knocks Marko down again. Cat rushes in and shouts at Ben to leave them alone. Ben hands over the negatives for free and walks away. He wants nothing to do with any of this.
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Cat Hardy Hires The Man She Just Fought
The next morning, Janet packs her things. She is quitting because Ben has not paid her in weeks. She cannot work for free anymore. Ben sits at his desk, alone.
Then Cat Hardy walks through the door. She asks Ben for help. Flint Marko has disappeared. She wants Ben to find him. The episode ends with Ben staring at Cat, now pulled into a case he tried so hard to avoid.
Lamorne Morris plays Robbie Robertson, the journalist who knows Ben’s secret. Li Jun Li plays Cat Hardy, the nightclub singer. Jack Huston plays Flint Marko, the sand-powered bodyguard. Brendan Gleeson plays Silvermane, the mob boss controlling the city.
The first episode sets up multiple mysteries. Who hired Addison to burn Silvermane’s mansion? Who hired Mr. Carmedy to follow the mayor’s affair? And what does Cat Hardy really want from Ben Reilly?
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