A new teaser for Prime Video‘s upcoming series Spider-Noir has given fans a proper look at the classic comic book villains appearing in the show. The live-action adaptation starring Nicolas Cage brings a 1930s detective twist to the Marvel universe, and the bad guys are getting a major makeover for this period setting.
The teaser, released on April 22, 2026, runs about one minute and focuses on four main antagonists who will face off against Cage’s character, Ben Reilly. These include crime boss Silvermane, the tragic Sandman, the dangerous Tombstone, and an obscure villain named Megawatt.
Brendan Gleeson Plays Irish Crime Boss Silvermane
Brendan Gleeson, the Academy Award-nominated actor known for The Banshees of Inisherin, plays Silvermane as the main villain of the series. In the comics, Silvermane is Italian, but this version puts an Irish spin on the character.
Gleeson describes his character simply and directly.
“He’s psychopathic but also a little bit smarter than your average narcissist.”
Silvermane runs a nightclub called The Alcove and employs other super-powered characters as his enforcers. His organization sits at the center of the criminal world Ben Reilly must navigate. The character controls a network of corruption that touches every part of 1933 New York.
Jack Huston’s Sandman Faces a Deadly Curse
Jack Huston, from Boardwalk Empire, plays Flint Marko, better known as Sandman. This version of the character has a close connection to Tombstone, as both men served together in World War I.
Huston calls Sandman the ultimate anti-hero.
“This power of a superhero is also what’s killing him.”
The actor, who admitted he did not know much about Marvel comics before getting the role, approached the character as a fresh creation.
“I was infinitely excited at the prospect of going into something like this, but not having to adhere to anything that’s come before. I took it just at face value. I was like, ‘Well, why don’t I just go and create a great character from my head?’”
Sandman works as a bodyguard for Cat Hardy, the show’s version of Black Cat, played by Li Jun Li. Huston describes the relationship between Flint and Cat as complicated, with real feelings involved even though neither character fits the hero mold.
Oren Uziel, the co-showrunner, gave his take on this version of Sandman.
“He‘s really a bit of a tortured soul. And for me, those make kind of the best villains. I really liked his struggle, and his particular powers, I think, are always compelling and sort of fun to watch as a viewer too.”
Abraham Popoola Brings Grounded Tombstone to Life
Abraham Popoola plays Lonnie Lincoln, also known as Tombstone. In the comics, Tombstone has white skin due to albinism, but the show made a deliberate choice to change this because the series will be available in a black and white version.
Uziel explained the decision.
“Black and white is interesting. And certain things show up differently and present certain challenges. And I think [we] ruled that out before we even got too far down the road with talking about that.”
Popoola believes this version improves on the comic book original.
“This Tombstone is way more interesting. There was something more nefarious happening. He links this classic comic book character with a very grounded story.”
Like Sandman, this Tombstone served in World War I, which creates a shared background between the two characters. The war connection explains how they got their powers and why they remain loyal to each other even as their paths turn criminal.
Megawatt Emerges as Deep Cut Villain from Obscure Comics
The teaser also confirmed that a character many fans thought was Electro is actually Dirk Leydon, known as Megawatt. This villain first appeared in Spider-Man Unlimited #2 from 1993, making him a deep cut for comic book fans.
Andrew Lewis Caldwell plays the role. His take on the character differs from the other villains.
“There’s all these other bad guys with powers, but I think they’re trying to solve a problem. Dirk is the problem. It’s about getting his moment at all costs.”
According to Uziel, this Megawatt had dreams of Broadway stardom before turning to crime. The character’s motivation comes from failed ambition rather than desperation.
New Villain Jimmy Addison Created Specifically for the Show
Beyond the comic book characters, the series introduces a brand new villain named James “Jimmy” Addison, played by Jack Mikesell. This fire-wielding character has no direct comic book counterpart.
Uziel explained the thinking behind creating a new villain.
“He‘s the only one that doesn’t really have a direct comp [from the comics]. There are plenty of Marvel characters that we could pull from that would satisfy that, but I wouldn’t want to, for lack of a better term, burn any for future use.”
Cat Hardy Brings Femme Fatale Energy Without Powers
Li Jun Li plays Cat Hardy, the show’s version of Felicia Hardy, also known as Black Cat. Unlike the comics, her character does not have powers. Instead, she works as a nightclub singer caught between multiple dangerous people.
Li describes her character as someone who lies to everyone.
“When you’re lying, you kind of just want to stay still because you have to be careful about not revealing, showing your cards, but you also have to be hyper-focused so you can see and assess how much the other person knows. While she holds all the secrets, she also has to find out as much as she can.”
The actress also shared her thoughts on whether Cat counts as a villain.
“I know it sounds kind of corny, but no one is a villain. Everyone has their motives. Everyone is there, including Cat, to get what [they want]. And she will do everything in her power to be as convincing as possible.”
Retired Hero Ben Reilly Returns to Fight Crime
Spider-Noir follows Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a private investigator in 1933 New York. Five years before the show begins, Reilly was the city’s only superhero, known as The Spider. But a personal tragedy made him hang up the mask.
The teaser shows that the emergence of super-powered criminals forces Reilly to suit up again. He must investigate what connects these villains and stop them before they destroy the city.
Uziel said he picked villains based on story needs first.
“I went very story-first into what would suit the needs of the story that we’re telling. And then kind of relied on the fact that because Marvel is so expansive that there‘s going to be a character that can fit in nicely with that. In terms of villains, I really wanted them to be somewhat grounded and kind of connected to their humanity.”
Prime Video Release Date and Global Streaming Options
Spider-Noir will first air on MGM+‘s linear channel in the United States on May 25, 2026. The global streaming release follows on May 27, 2026, on Prime Video across more than 240 countries and territories.
The series includes eight episodes, and Prime Video will release all of them at once for binge watching.
Viewers can choose between two ways to watch the show:
- Authentic Black & White version for the true noir film experience
- True-Hue Full Color version for a more traditional viewing
The cast also includes Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Karen Rodriguez, Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, and other supporting players.
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The show comes from co-showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, with the first two episodes directed by Emmy winner Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag, Killing Eve). Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal — the team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — also serve as executive producers.
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