Nicolas Cage isn't like other big-name actors and A-Listers. The 62-year-old has a filmography longer than unrolled toilet paper and has worked with Hollywood's crème de la crème, but he is also, to be frank, a deeply weird man. That eccentricity shines through in his bold performances and eclectic movie choices. Who else could go from the critically acclaimed psychedelic horror Mandy to starring in direct-to-streaming schlock with just 4% on Rotten Tomatoes? Unlike other stars, Cage has stayed away from the small screen even as his contemporaries dive into prestige television. In fact, over his four-decade career, he had never appeared in a TV series—until now.
Yes, the Leaving Las Vegas star has finally broken his golden rule to play Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir, a new Amazon Prime show. And if Cage had to break a rule he lived by for 40 years, Spider-Noir was the right show to do it for. Nominally a Spider-Verse spin-off, the series follows Reilly, a private investigator who once protected the city as the masked vigilante: The Spider. When tragedy turned his life upside down, he hung up his mask and retired. But when a client walks through his door with a baffling new case, the call to swing back into action might be too loud to ignore.
A Dazzling Blend of Genres
Spider-Noir is an odd show but a good one, possibly even a great one. Its greatest strength is that, like all good superhero adaptations, it is completely unashamed of its comic roots. It is a dazzling and bonkers blend of action, science fiction, and body horror. As a comic reader, I have no doubt it will delight those who love leafing through the latest Marvel on a Wednesday afternoon. Yet, Spider-Noir is not simply an overblown tale—it is a journey into mystery. Like the best superhero adaptations—Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Dark Knight, or Guardians of the Galaxy—it knows how to blend genres.
Spider-Noir: Key Details
- Showrunners: Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot
- Synopsis: Ben Reilly, an ageing, down-on-his-luck private investigator, grapples with his past life as the only superhero in 1930s New York City, the Spider. When an exceptional case comes his way, Ben must become the Spider once more.
- Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson
- Run time: 8 episodes
- Streaming Service: Prime Video
The series goes out of its way to blend the best of the cape and cowl crowd with all the trappings of a classic Noir movie. Spider-Noir certainly looks the part, thanks to the moody cinematography of Darran Tiernan and the production design of Warren Alan Young. It is dark, cynical, hard-boiled, and in black and white (though a colour version is also available). Yet beyond those superficial bells and whistles, the show truly feels like it was conceived as a Noir first and foremost, with Cage just happening to turn up dressed as Spider-Man.
Compelling Mystery and Stellar Cast
The mystery element is well conceived and compelling, even with superheroes and supervillains duking it out every 10 minutes. Part of what sells the mystery and bizarreness is the cast. They are all brilliant, but if forced to choose the best, I would cry out Lamorne Morris as Robbie Robertson and Karen Rodriguez as Janet, both enchanting. However, the real star is Cage, who brings his usual Western Kabuki style acting—deranged and energetic—to the show.
Verdict
A spectacular (and some might say amazing) mash-up of the Noir and superhero genres that swings to new heights thanks to Cage's bold and brilliant performance. The result really should not work; it is way too over the top and cliché, almost like a parody at times, but through sheer charisma, Cage sells it. It is not perfect—the mystery takes a few episodes to get into gear, and the spoiler-filled 'this season' trailer at the end of the first episode is a misstep. Still, in a world of shows that seem procedurally generated by an algorithm, I was charmed by Spider-Noir in all its majestic monotone magnificence.
Spider-Noir premiered on 27th May 2026 exclusively on Prime Video in the UK.
