The upcoming live-action series Spider-Noir starring Nicolas Cage has finally revealed which classic Marvel villains and comic book characters will appear in the 1930s-set crime drama. Recent interviews and the official trailer have confirmed that the Prime Video and MGM+ production is bringing a mix of never-before-adapted antagonists and familiar Spider-Man foes reimagined for the gritty Depression-era New York.
Spider-Noir is set to premiere on May 27, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with an MGM+ broadcast following. Indian viewers can stream the eight-episode first season on Prime Video India the same day. The series will be available in both black-and-white and full-color versions at launch.
Silvermane Takes Center Stage as the Main Villain
Brendan Gleeson is playing Silvermane, the elderly crime boss who serves as the primary antagonist of Spider-Noir. This marks the first time the Marvel Comics character has ever appeared in a live-action adaptation, despite being a Spider-Man foe since his debut in Amazing Spider-Man #73 in 1969.
In the series, Silvermane—whose real name is Silvio Manfredi in the comics—is a New York mob boss who has survived multiple assassination attempts. Showrunner Oren Uziel explained how the character fits into the detective-style narrative.
“In all the great detective stories, you have two cases that sort of come together and you realize you’re actually working the same thing. He’s a guy getting dragged into a much larger fight that he doesn’t really want to be a part of. Silvermane is the big bad, but what’s happening to Silvermane connects back to Ben’s past and gets him spiraling deeper and deeper into his own origins.”
The character is depicted as living in paranoia, constantly looking over his shoulder. One of the assassination attempts against him comes from a mysterious arsonist who can generate fire with his hands, hinting at another yet-to-be-confirmed villain.
Jack Huston Steps into Sandman’s Shoes
Jack Huston, known for Boardwalk Empire, has been confirmed as Flint Marko, the man who becomes Sandman. This casting was previously rumored but officially verified through Esquire magazine’s extensive feature on the series.
This version of Flint Marko is not a supervillain with sand-based powers—at least not in the traditional sense. He is described as “hired muscle” who works for the New York underworld. The show takes a grounded, noir approach to the character. Instead of radioactive sand, this Flint Marko is simply a tough guy who delivers punchy one-liners, telling opponents to “go pound sand” before engaging in fisticuffs.
Whether the character develops his signature powers later in the season remains unclear. The trailer shows brief glimpses of sand-like particles around Huston’s face, suggesting that the show might slowly introduce the supernatural elements.
Cat Hardy and the Black Cat Connection
Li Jun Li plays Cat Hardy, a nightclub singer described as the “femme fatale” who pulls Nicolas Cage’s Ben Reilly into a dangerous conspiracy. While the character’s name is different, comic book readers immediately recognize the connection to Felicia Hardy, better known as Black Cat.
Uziel described the character as a mix of classic Hollywood icons.
“Really, she’s Rita Hayworth… and then a little bit of Lauren Bacall, because Bogey and Bacall go so well together. There’s some Kim Basinger from L.A. Confidential, in terms of how she fits into everything. She’s an amalgam of a lot of different things.”
The series does not explicitly confirm if this Cat Hardy is meant to be Black Cat or simply a reference for eagle-eyed fans. She operates a nightclub, much like Felicia Hardy ran the Black Cat speakeasy in the original Spider-Man Noir comics. Her role is central to the “underworld conspiracy” that drives the season’s plot.
Ben Reilly, Not Peter Parker: Why the Change?
One of the most talked-about decisions in Spider-Noir is the use of Ben Reilly as the identity of Cage’s character. In the Spider-Verse films, Cage voiced Peter Parker from Earth-90214. For the live-action series, the creative team deliberately changed the alter ego.
Producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller addressed the name change directly.
“I have to be coy about the reasons, because you’ll find out.”
“The reason he’s named Ben Reilly is explained. We’ll leave it at that.”
In Marvel Comics, Ben Reilly is the Scarlet Spider, a clone of Peter Parker introduced in 1975. The show is not adapting the clone storyline. Instead, it uses the name to signal a different kind of hero. Uziel explained that Peter Parker represents youthful optimism, while Ben Reilly—a character who in the comics struggled with identity and purpose—better fits the weary, cynical tone of film noir.
Cage described his character as “70 percent Humphrey Bogart, and 30 percent Bugs Bunny,” capturing both the seriousness of a detective and the oddball energy he brought to the animated version.
Robbie Robertson: The Journalist Sidekick
Lamorne Morris joins the cast as Robbie Robertson, a freelance journalist and Ben Reilly’s longtime friend. This character has been a staple of Spider-Man comics since 1967 and was previously played by Bill Nunn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
The Spider-Noir version of Robbie is a dedicated reporter trying to make a name for himself during the Great Depression. He takes on dangerous stories that other journalists avoid. His relationship with Ben is central to the series.
“They’re both investigators. They both go back a long way. Their friendship has really deep ties. The biggest and most obvious difference is that Robbie is a guy who almost carries around a rabbit’s foot. He thinks he’s lucky, and it’s all going to work out. Ben is a character who thinks it’s never going to work out. It’s all going to go to sh*t. So Ben’s cynicism is kind of an opposing force to Robbie’s optimism.”
What the Trailer Revealed About Additional Villains
The official Spider-Noir trailer, released in February 2026, offered more than just release date confirmation. Sharp-eyed viewers spotted several additional characters that may appear in the series.
A quick shot at the 1:24 mark shows Cage’s Spider facing an opponent who channels electricity through their hand. Comic book fans recognize this as Electro (Maxwell Dillon), who appeared in the original Spider-Man Noir comics. The character has not been officially confirmed by Amazon or Sony, but the visual evidence strongly suggests his inclusion.
Another brief moment at 1:09 shows what appears to be Molten Man, a Spider-Man foe made of liquid metal. The 41-second mark contains a quick silhouette that some fans believe is Vulture. This is significant because in the Spider-Man Noir comics, the Vulture—working as an enforcer for the Goblin—kills Uncle Ben. If Vulture appears, it would directly tie into Ben Reilly’s origin story.
The arsonist attempting to kill Silvermane has not been identified. Possibilities include Molten Man or a noir-adapted version of Human Torch (the android Jim Hammond, not Johnny Storm), who exists in Marvel’s 1930s timeline.
Release Format and Global Availability
Spider-Noir will stream all eight episodes on Prime Video starting May 27, 2026. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can access the series through Prime Video on the same day. The show will also air on MGM+ in the United States.
A unique feature of this release is the option to watch the entire series in black-and-white or full color. The creative team shot the series with both presentations in mind, allowing viewers to choose their preferred viewing experience.
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A Villain Never Before Seen in Live-Action
Silvermane’s inclusion is historically significant for Spider-Man adaptations. While characters like Sandman, Electro, and Vulture have appeared in multiple films, Silvermane has never made the leap to live-action until now. The character represents the organized crime element that defined early Spider-Man comics and fits perfectly into the noir aesthetic.
The Spider-Noir creative team selected villains based on their suitability for a 1930s setting. Super-science is downplayed in favor of street-level crime, corrupt politicians, and mob power struggles. Even characters with overt superpowers in the comics are portrayed as grounded, practical criminals in this universe—at least initially.
Spider-Noir arrives on Prime Video on May 27, 2026, bringing Nicolas Cage’s unique take on the web-slinger to living rooms worldwide.
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