‘Spider-Noir’ remixes Spider-Man into a Humphrey Bogart-like superhero

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Spider-Man returns in “Spider-Noir,” a story set in a 1930s New York that feels familiar but isn’t always historically accurate. This version of the character, previously known as simply the Spider in comics, is quite different from that earlier iteration—though most readers probably won’t notice the changes.

The eight-episode series, launching Monday on MGM+ and Wednesday on Prime Video, is a bit of a bold move, filmed in what looks like classic black and white. While the style leans towards a slightly later era, it generally feels fitting for the story. A colorized version is also available, seemingly to attract viewers who don’t like black and white films, but it doesn’t work as well. The color washes out the visuals, making effects and artistic shots less impactful and everyday scenes look less realistic. I definitely recommend the black and white version, but watch whichever you prefer!

Television

Nicolas Cage made his first foray into television with ‘Spider-Noir,’ a unique version of Spider-Man taking place in 1930s New York City. The show will be available in both color and black and white, and stars Lamorne Morris alongside Cage.

Nicolas Cage stars as Ben Reilly, a struggling private investigator in his first live-action TV role. He starts his days with whiskey in his coffee, courtesy of his perceptive secretary, Janet (Karen Rodriguez), and barely makes ends meet with occasional divorce cases. Five years ago, he was the hero known as the Spider, but he abandoned that life after the woman he loved was killed because of his powers. Interestingly, she was the one who originally told him the famous line, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and in this world, it’s mistakenly attributed to Abraham Lincoln instead of Stan Lee. Reilly, who considers himself a coward and denies being a hero, views his abilities as a burden, wishing he never had them. He believes that without powers, there would be no responsibility.

With Spider-Man gone, Gotham has really fallen apart. “The city is a disaster,” explains Joe Robertson, Reilly’s closest friend and a currently jobless reporter (played brilliantly by Lamorne Morris, who brings a lot of authenticity to the role). “People are desperate for someone to look up to.”

“Well, I hope they find someone,” says Ben.

It’s no surprise that Reilly will quickly find himself caught up in a complicated and dangerous situation. This involves Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson), a powerful crime boss known for his impressive hair, and his singer, Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), who feels trapped despite her glamorous life. Adding to the trouble, Cat’s bodyguard, Flint (Jack Huston), has disappeared. And, of course, other people with superpowers will emerge, giving our hero – who ends up swinging around the city while miraculously keeping his hat on – some formidable opponents.

It’s often said that some people are born with extraordinary abilities, others gain them, and still others have them forced upon them. But in every instance, these powers come with a side of hardship and emotional pain, whether you’re a hero or a villain. This idea is central to the show “Spider-Noir” – beyond just creating another Spider-Man series. A consistent undercurrent of sadness runs throughout, which is both the show’s most compelling quality and, appropriately for the ‘noir’ genre, perfectly fitting.

The visuals – created with a mix of on-location filming, sets, digital effects, and clever techniques – vary in quality from shot to shot, but are never poor. It’s reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s work, and it’s enjoyable to see a depiction of Manhattan before the construction of its ultra-tall skyscrapers – the city as it appeared in the original King Kong.

Television

Even if you can’t travel this summer, you can still escape to different worlds through books like ‘Spider-Noir,’ ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ and ‘Lanterns.’

The show’s rhythm occasionally feels slow. The music doesn’t quite fit the time period, and characters sometimes quote lines from movies that hadn’t even been made yet. The writing and performances often lean into familiar tropes and exaggerated characters, but that’s almost expected given the show is entirely based on imitating classic films from the 1940s. You might recognize scenes inspired by Orson Welles’ “The Lady From Shanghai,” plot points similar to “Casablanca,” or a line referencing James Cagney’s last words in “White Heat.” Despite these quirks, the story itself is smartly constructed and the ending is rewarding.

As a film buff, I think Nicolas Cage is perfect for this role. He actually voiced Spider-Noir in ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ so he’s already familiar with the vibe. This series feels about 75% detective story and 25% superhero action, and Cage really nails that classic, world-weary gumshoe feel. It’s fun because you can almost picture him doing an Edward G. Robinson impression all by himself! But he’s clearly modeling his performance after Humphrey Bogart – there’s a definite resemblance, especially to Bogart’s Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. The writer, Oren Uziel, is really aiming for that same dry wit, and I think he pulls it off pretty well. Honestly, it’s easy to forget just how good Cage is as a comedic actor; sometimes people focus on his… unique choices, but he really becomes this character, finding that sweet spot between a performance and just being a person.

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2026-05-25 13:31