Lucky 13 Review

Spider-Noir

⭐⭐⭐

Spider-Noir Delivers a Successful Love Letter to Pulp Cinema with a fun performance from Nicolas Cage

Showrunners: Oren Uziel & Steve Lightfoot (2026)

Stats

Official Release May 27, 2026

Rotten Tomatoes 91%

Watch Two Ways Authentic B&W or True Hue Full Color

Running Time 8 Episodes (45m each)

Official Synopsis

Private eye Ben Reilly is living easy and lazy until mobsters, monsters, and a femme fatale drag him back to his former life as New York city's only superhero.

Ensemble

Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly / The Spider
Lamorne Morris as Robbie Robertson
Brendan Gleeson as Silvermane
Li Jun Li as Edwarda
Jack Huston as Flint Marko
Abraham Popoola as Lonnie Lincoln
Karen Rodriguez as Janet
Andrew Lewis Caldwell as Dirk Leydon

Architects

Developers / Writers: Oren Uziel, Steve Lightfoot
Directors: Harry Bradbeer, Nzingha Stewart, Alethea Jones, Greg Yaitanes
Executive Producers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, Nicolas Cage
Cinematographer: Darran Tiernan
Editor: Jennifer Barbot, Geraud Brisson, Tirsa Hackshaw, Erik Kissack
Music Composer: Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons

Production Vault

Technical Specs

Camera: Sony CineAlta Venice 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Format: Video (4K UHD)

Financials & Rating

Budget: $400 Million
Content Rating: TV-14

Filming Locations

Los Angeles, California, USA

Behind the Lens Spotlight

To elevate the visual immersion of 1930s Manhattan, the show introduces a unique dual presentation methodology. Streaming audiences are offered the explicit creative choice between viewing the series in an authentic, high contrast black and white format or a true hue full color palette, drastically shifting the thematic lighting and shadow rendering across the 1.85:1 framed streetscapes.

Production Info

Developed under the production banners of Sony Pictures Television, Lord Miller, and Pascal Pictures, the live action project was first announced in early 2023. Principal photography kicked off in Los Angeles in August 2024 and wrapped up in March 2025. It targets a distinct broadcast schedule, rolling out on MGM plus linear television networks ahead of its massive global release on Amazon Prime Video.

Authentic Black & White

True-Hue Full Color

Ray's Review

Spider-Noir is an entertaining cinematic tribute to the classic noir films of the past, infusing the detective genre with a distinct comic book twist. Anchored by a spirited live action portrayal from Nicolas Cage, the series functions as a fascinating testament to the changing landscape of modern entertainment. It marks a historic milestone for the project, representing the first time the Academy Award winning actor has made his official television series debut. The production was initially inspired by the web-slinging detective popularized in Marvel comics, a persona that achieved massive mainstream success following the character's breakout appearance in Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, where Cage originally lent his iconic voice to the animated variant.

In this live action adaptation, the central protagonist is named Ben Reilly, a deliberate creative choice implemented to firmly separate the narrative from Sony's current live action theatrical Marvel movies. The writing subtly hints that this moniker might possibly serve as a defensive alias constructed to mask the traditional Peter Parker persona we are all familiar with. Production reports also confirm that this version of the detective exists in an entirely different alternate reality than the one featured in Into the Spider-Verse. These complex multiversal parameters serve as a perfect creative narrative tool, establishing that this series is a completely standalone entity with no direct continuity constraints or connections to previous cinematic iterations.

The series is uniquely presented to audiences in two distinct viewing formats: a modern True-Hue Full Color presentation or an Authentic Black and White style. In evaluating which aesthetic framework proves more successful, the Black and White format stands out as the superior experience, though this choice will ultimately come down to a viewer's personal preference. Watching the third episode in full color reveals that the vibrant palette is never overly distracting. In fact, the color format offers several stylistic benefits, operating as a novel, highly unique presentation of a period piece. However, the stark contrast of lights and heavy shadows delivered by the monochrome presentation perfectly matches the hardboiled detective aesthetic, heavily elevating the atmospheric dread of the setting.

Evaluating its success as both a crime thriller and a comic book adaptation reveals that Spider-Noir does a capable, if occasionally unexceptional, job of fulfilling standard genre tropes on both fronts. The production truly begins to excel when it stops trying to separate these elements and instead fully embraces the cross-pollination of both worlds. The series shines brightest when it directly maps iconic superhero mechanics onto the cynical, rain-slicked streets of an alternate 1930s New York City.

The series benefits immensely from a collection of highly engaging performances across the entire supporting cast, but everything ultimately orbits the magnetic presence of Nicolas Cage. Cage delivers an amusing Humphrey Bogart twist on the weary detective, infusing the character with a specialized manic energy and eccentric performance choices that only he can deliver. Opposite him, Brendan Gleeson turns in a commanding performance as the primary antagonist, commanding the screen with a brutal presence. Lamorne Morris delivers a fun dramatic depth as investigative reporter Robbie Robertson, serving as an essential moral compass and ally to Reilly, while Jack Huston provides a typically heavy, intense performance that grounds the stakes of the underworld. Furthermore, Li Jun Li is memorable as the quintessential femme fatale Cat Hardy, playing multiple factions against one another while weaponizing her seductive charms to secure her ultimate goals.

Despite these exceptional high points, the pacing of the narrative represents a notable shortcoming. The material frequently feels stretched across its episodic format, and the story would have been far better served as a tight, focused two or two and a half hour feature film. Thankfully, the show does not attempt to overstay its welcome or force an unnecessary second season. The self-contained, single-season limited series format fits the material perfectly, and the writing deserves immense credit for refusing to end on a manipulative cliffhanger. Every major narrative thread and loose end is neatly resolved by the finale, offering a refreshing sense of structural finality that stands out in an industry dominated by endless franchise extensions.

Spider-Noir functions as a successful love letter to the golden era of detective cinema, boasting several amusing callbacks to historic cinematic landmarks. Most notably, the final episode delivers a impressive, visually complex mirror sequence tribute to Orson Welles's classic masterpiece, The Lady from Shanghai. While the superhero action elements are somewhat less effective than the rich period atmosphere, they remain consistently engaging. The most inventive choice lies in the unsettling body horror elements used to depict the grotesque physical side effects of Reilly's spider abilities. The narrative also includes several clever, remixed references to classic villains like Electro and Sandman, backed by special effects that are consistently entertaining without ever becoming overproduced. Spider-Noir is a highly enjoyable, atmospheric diversion that works as a good-natured tribute to old-school pulp fiction. It is absolutely worth checking out, even if it falls just short of matching the sharp energy of Marvel's Wonder Man or the flawless narrative pacing of other modern detective properties like Bad Monkey and Sugar.

Final Verdict

⭐⭐⭐

Spider-Noir functions as a entertaining, visually unique mashup that ultimately stands out as a solid if unexceptional entry into the superhero landscape. Nicolas Cage commands the screen with a brilliant, manic Humphrey Bogart twist on the hardboiled detective, surrounded by an exceptionally talented cast that keeps the pulp energy engaging from start to finish. While the episodic structure occasionally stretches the pacing too thin and forces the material to run a bit too long, the refreshing narrative finality of its self contained, single season limited format prevents it from overstaying its welcome. It remains a good natured, atmospheric love letter to classic cinema that is worth checking out for Cage fans, even if it falls just short of matching the elite execution of its premium streaming genre competitors.

Fun Facts

Fact 1: Nicolas Cage reprises the comic book character role live after previously voicing the animated variant in the 2018 hit Spider Man Into the Spider Verse.
Fact 2: This production marks the first time in Nicolas Cage's extensive decades long acting career that he has taken on the absolute lead role in a live action television series.
Fact 3: To separate this narrative from existing live action cinematic variations, the central alter ego moniker is explicitly designated as The Spider rather than the traditional Spider Man title.

Mission Dossier: Expanded Universe