Spider-Noir, the new live-action series starring Nicolas Cage, will offer viewers a unique choice. The show will be released in two complete visual versions: one in authentic black and white and another in a specially designed color format. This news came alongside the reveal of a new poster that confirmed Cage’s character is Ben Reilly, a different persona from the Peter Parker version fans know. The series is scheduled to debut in 2026 on MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Two Ways to Watch the Dark 1930s Tale
Unlike most shows, Spider-Noir was created with two distinct visual styles in mind from the beginning. Executive producer Christopher Miller explained the decision, stating that there is no single “main” version of the show.
The first version is the classic black-and-white experience. The entire series was filmed using black-and-white cameras and special filters to perfectly copy the look and mood of 1930s detective films. Actor Lukas Haas, who has a role in the series, described the on-set monitors showing everything in black and white, making the scenes look like genuine old footage.
The second version will be a full-color presentation. However, Miller notes this is not a simple colorization. The color version has been “designed in an exciting and unique period-inspired way”. This suggests the color palette will be carefully chosen to fit the 1930s setting, possibly using muted or specific tones to keep the noir feeling even in color.
“It was shot and designed to be in black and white – and there will also be a color version that has been designed in an exciting and unique period-inspired way. So there is no ‘main’ version,” said producer Christopher Miller.
This dual-release strategy is a first for a major superhero series and lets audiences pick how they want to experience the gritty story.
Nicolas Cage Returns as a Different Spider-Man
Nicolas Cage reprises his role as a Spider-Man Noir character, having voiced a version in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. However, the live-action series introduces a major change. Official materials, including a new poster revealed at the CCXP event in Brazil, confirm his character is Ben Reilly, a private investigator in 1930s New York.
In the original Marvel comics, Ben Reilly is famously known as the Scarlet Spider, a clone of Peter Parker. This makes the live-action Spider-Noir a new, separate character from the Peter Parker Spider-Man Noir featured in the recent animated Spider-Verse movies. The series will follow this older Ben Reilly as he struggles with his current life as a down-on-his-luck detective and his past as a superhero.
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A Star-Studded Cast for a Gritty World
Cage leads a strong cast of actors who will populate the show’s dark version of 1930s New York. Lamorne Morris plays Robbie Robertson, a journalist chasing big stories. Brendan Gleeson portrays a dangerous New York mob boss, described by the actor himself as a philosophical and dangerous figure.
The cast also includes Li Jun Li as a nightclub singer, Abraham Popoola as a World War I veteran, and Jack Huston as a bodyguard. The supporting and guest cast features names like Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, and Amy Aquino.
Behind the camera, the series is led by co-showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot. The first two episodes are directed by Harry Bradbeer, known for his work on Fleabag and Killing Eve. The creative team also includes Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal, the producers behind the acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse animated films.
How and When to Watch Spider-Noir
Spider-Noir is set for a 2026 release. The plan is for the series to first premiere on the MGM+ cable channel and streaming service in the United States. The very next day, all eight episodes of the series will become available for streaming globally on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories.
Filming for the series took place in Los Angeles from August 2024 to March 2025. The production is a collaboration between Sony Pictures Television, Lord Miller Productions, and Amazon MGM Studios, and is part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe of live-action projects.
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