Spider-Man fans will be pleased to learn that Nicolas Cage is reportedly gearing up to slip into the trench coat and fedora of Spider-Man Noir in a live-action series set to hit Prime Video. This news comes from an insider (courtesy of Ankler), who revealed that Cage was in “serious talks to take on the lead role” of the upcoming show.
Nicolas Cage has previously lent his distinctively intense voice to the character in the critically acclaimed animated films Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its 2023 sequel, Across the Spider-Verse. Spider-Man Noir, which was first published in 2009, takes the story of Peter Parker into the gritty, shadow-drenched streets of 1930s New York City, where Spider-Man adopts a more brooding, detective-like persona.
Known for his ability to infuse characters with a rare combination of intensity and nuance, Cage as Spider-Man Noir could bring a depth to the character that bridges the gap between comic book fantasy and the bleak realism of film noir. His portrayal in the Spider-Verse films was met with such fan adoration that the mere thought of him stepping into the live-action version of the character has generated a wave of excitement and anticipation among both casual and die-hard Spider-Man fans.
The studio has yet to confirm the whispers about Cage’s return, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from superhero leaks, it’s that where there’s smoke, there’s often more than not a fire.
In a parallel storyline that seems to be weaving its own web of intrigue, Prime Video’s Silk: Spider Society is supposedly undergoing a massive creative overhaul. The entire writers’ room has been shown the door, leaving Angela Kang to steer the project as showrunner, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, legends within Spider-Man lore, continuing their production roles.
Silk: Spider Society follows Cindy Moon, a Korean-American student who gets bitten by the same radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his Spider-Man abilities (maybe someone should make a movie about this particular spider). Silk is among the Spider-Women characters that are set to feature in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, alongside Gwen Stacy and Jessica Drew.
What’s particularly fascinating about these developments is the broader context in which they unfold. The superhero genre has been at a crossroads, with studios searching for ways to reignite the magic in the wake of mammoth blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame.
Sony and Amazon’s bet on a character as niche as Spider-Man Noir and potentially bringing back Cage to lead the charge speaks volumes about the direction they’re willing to take. Daring? Absolutely. Risky? Perhaps, but since when has the world of superheroes shied away from a gamble?
In related news, Madame Web, the Dakota Johnson-led superhero film, has continued the trend of poor box office performances posted by superhero films. The Sony film was initially predicted to rake in a six-day total of over $30 million, but now it will be lucky to make $26 million by the end of the weekend.
