Trailer Introduces a Dark, Noir Take on Spider-Man’s Ben Reilly
Prime Video has released the first official trailer for Spider-Noir, unveiling a stark, moody reimagining of Spider-Man’s Ben Reilly, played by Nicolas Cage. The series leans hard into classic noir—both visually and thematically—offering two versions of the preview (black-and-white and color) to emphasize its period atmosphere and the fractured inner life of its haunted protagonist.
Set in a 1930s New York that blends smoky detective drama with surreal comic-book elements, the footage positions Reilly as a washed-up private investigator who must reconcile a violent past, strange new powers, and the moral hazards of being the city’s only masked vigilante.
What the Trailer Reveals
- Opening premise: The trailer begins with Ben being asked to tell his story from the beginning, framing the series as part-mystery, part-confessional noir.
- Origin hints: Flashbacks show a facility containing spiders in jars, suggesting the source of Reilly’s abilities and the experimental circumstances behind them.
- Psychological stakes: Reilly is seen battling intrusive “ticks, thoughts, impulses”—a recurring motif that underscores his susceptibility to darker urges compared with Peter Parker’s typical restraint.
- Tone and visuals: Stark cinematography, rain-slicked rooftops, smoky nightclubs, and rain-soaked alleys evoke classic film-noir, while surreal visions and hallucinatory moments add a supernatural edge.
- Character traits: Cage’s Ben mixes world-weariness with moments of offbeat charisma—he drinks to blunt the trauma of the job and channels both the detective archetype and a tragic, unstable superhero.
- Antagonists and threats: The trailer and recent promotional images confirm Jack Huston as Sandman, suggesting the show will pit Reilly against familiar Spider-Man villains reinterpreted through a noir lens.
Principal Cast and Characters
The series assembles a varied ensemble around Cage’s Ben Reilly:
- Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly (Spider-Noir)
- Lamorne Morris as Robbie Robertson, a freelance journalist and confidant
- Li Jun Li as Cat Hardy
- Karen Rodriguez as Janet, Ben’s secretary
- Jack Huston as Sandman
- Brendan Gleeson in a supporting role
- Abraham Popoola among the main cast
An additional roster of guest performers includes Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Cary Christopher, Michael Kostroff, Scott MacArthur, Joe Massingill, Whitney Rice, Amanda Schull, Andrew Caldwell, Amy Aquino, Andrew Robinson, and Kai Caster.
Creative Team and Production Details
Spider-Noir is produced by Sony Pictures Television for both Prime Video and the MGM+ linear channel, reflecting a cross-platform release strategy. Key creative figures include:
- Showrunners: Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot (the latter known for his work on The Punisher)
- Development contributors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal—writers who helped translate the Spider-Verse tone into this new live-action interpretation
- Direction: Harry Bradbeer is among the directors attached to the project
The series is positioned as a faithful expansion of the noir variant introduced in the Spider-Verse animated universe while pushing the character into darker, more personal territory.
Release Plan: When and Where to Watch
Prime Video will drop all episodes of Spider-Noir on May 27, with a special sneak-peek premiere airing on the MGM+ channel domestically on May 25. This dual-release approach aims to reach both streaming subscribers and linear television audiences.
How Spider-Noir Fits Into Spider-Man Lore
Spider-Noir adapts a distinct alternate-universe take on Spider-Man: Ben Reilly is commonly depicted in Spider canon as a clone of Peter Parker, and this series explores the psychological and moral consequences of that origin in a rugged, 1930s detective setting. The show marks a notable return of Spider-Man to serialized live-action television after several years, reframing the superhero as a hardboiled investigator whose powers and impulses complicate the casework he takes on.
What to Expect From the Series
Viewers can anticipate a hybrid of genres:
- Detective procedural elements—case-by-case investigations, newsroom interplay, and classic noir tropes
- Superhero action—clashes with reimagined villains, rooftop pursuits, and the physical toll of vigilantism
- Psychological drama—Reilly’s inner turmoil, hallucinatory episodes, and moral ambiguity
- Visual experimentation—dual presentation in black-and-white and color, rich, period production design, and stylized cinematography
The combination of Cage’s idiosyncratic screen presence and an experienced creative team suggests a series that will be as much character study as it is genre entertainment.
Where to Find the Trailers
Prime Video has published both a black-and-white and a color version of the trailer to showcase the show’s dual aesthetic. Both versions are available on Prime Video’s platforms and official channels.
Stay tuned for more previews and featurettes as Spider-Noir approaches its late-May debut.