If you happen to had mentioned a decade in the past {that a} live-action Spider-Man sequence was within the works with Nicolas Cage because it’s main man, nearly everybody would’ve advised you that you weren’t considering clearly. However now, after the success of the Spider-Verse franchise and the perpetually rising curiosity in Marvel’s biggest webslinger, Spider-Black is on its manner. In fact, Cage’s Spidey is not the everyday interpretation. Except for the Twentieth-century noir aesthetic, his Spider-Man, known as The Spider or Spider-Noir, is not even Peter Parker this time round — it is really a personality named Ben Reilly, who is not thus far off Spidey’s overwhelmed path.
Nicolas Cage Is Enjoying Ben Reilly in ‘Spider-Noir,’ Not Peter Parker
For a fast historical past lesson, Spider-Man Noir first appeared in 2009 in Spider-Man: Blacka guide reinterpreting the Spidey mythology right into a Despair-era story stuffed with intrigue and thriller. The alternate universe Peter Parker counterpart was good, after all, for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versethe place Cage voiced the character in an animated capability (Milo Ventimiglia had completed so beforehand within the Final Spider-Man animated sequence). Spider-Noir has been so common with followers that he hasn’t simply made his manner into animation, he is now increasing into live-action as effectively (the primary alternate universe Spidey to take action).
Solely the Prime Video drama has modified his title from Peter Parker to Ben Reilly. Why? It is in all probability one thing to do with Sony’s live-action rights to the character, hoping to keep away from any confusion with the Tom Holland-led franchise that is persevering with this yr with Spider-Man: Model New Day. However regardless of the motive, Ben Reilly is not so totally different from Peter Parker. As any die-hard Marvel Comics fan already is aware of, he is really his clone.
Who Is Ben Reilly in Marvel Comics?
For the uninitiated, Ben Reilly was first launched as a easy Spider-Man clone manner again in The Wonderful Spider-Man #149 in 1975. After the Jackal had cloned the wall-crawler, the 2 Spider-Males fought the villain and one seemingly died within the aftermath, main the Spidey we’re left with to surprise if he was the real-deal or the clone all alongside. However that wasn’t the top for the clone. Recognizing that he was the fake Spidey, he renamed himself “Ben Reilly” in honor of Peter’s Uncle Ben and Aunt Could, Reilly being Could’s maiden surname. For many years, this character was misplaced till he returned once more within the Nineties through the famed “The Clone Saga,” which toyed with the concept Reilly would possibly really be the unique. Though Reilly primarily glided by the “Scarlet Spider” moniker whereas Peter was nonetheless Spider-Man, he ultimately took over the primary superhero id — and problems with The Wonderful Spider-Man, Spider-Man, The Sensational Spider-Manand many others. — for a time whereas Peter and Mary Jane Watson-Parker (as the 2 had been married inside Marvel continuity on the time) pursued a traditional life.
Finally, Ben was killed in battle with the Inexperienced Goblin in Spider-Man #75 in 1996, although followers had grown hooked up to the character (regardless of many hating “The Clone Saga” as an entire) and hoped to see him return for many years. Whereas he ultimately did, it was now as a villain, claiming the Jackal id as his personal. This, after all, did not final, and Ben ultimately returned to his Scarlet Spider id and have become a hero as soon as extra — regardless of having died practically 30 instances and virtually shedding his thoughts within the course of. So, the truth that Spider-Black is taking a stab at this tortured model of Spider-Man (wrapped up within the Spider-Man Noir interpretation that is already a bit tortured as is) is kind of fascinating, although actually an thrilling departure for followers who hope to see different interpretations of the wall-crawler on the display.
Nicolas Cage’s ‘Spider-Noir’ Shifts the Marvel Franchise Away From Peter Parker
Though the unique Spider-Man Noir (and the animated model Cage beforehand voiced) was a brand new interpretation of Peter Parker, Spider-Black takes this complete factor a step additional through the use of it as a way to discover Ben Reilly. By paring Reilly’s distinctive comedian guide historical past with the tragic Despair-era pleasure of Spider-Man Noir, Prime Video has the possibility to make one thing that actually stands out by comparability to different Spidey entries. Because the fourth live-action tv sequence to characteristic the wall-crawler (after Spidey Tremendous Tales, The Wonderful Spider-Man, and the Japanese Spider-Man) and the second to comply with a Spider-Man not explicitly named Peter Parker, Spider-Black appears to be like prefer it’s pulling out all of the stops to make this Marvel tv sequence stand out.
How the live-action sequence will reinvent a few of Spider-Man’s supporting forged members and rogues gallery stays to be seen, however with Cage on the forefront of this The Massive Sleep-inspired detective drama, what might go mistaken? If Into the Spider-Verse proved something years in the past, it is that there are such a lot of Spider-Man tales on the market to be advised past the everyday blockbuster fare. Spider-Black appears to be taking part in into simply that, with a brand new interpretation of the wall-crawler that may maintain audiences locked and loaded and prepared for extra. With loads of Spider-Man content material slated for 2026we merely can not wait.
Spider-Black is ready to air on Could 27, 2026, on Prime Video.
