The Complete History of Spider-Man Noir, Explained

The Spider-Verse is finally expanding into live-action television. After rumors circulated, Prime Video officially confirmed they are working on a Spider-Man television series based on the character Spider-Man Noir. The even bigger get for the streaming service is that Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage will star in the series, playing the role in live-action after having voiced the character in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The series will be titled Noir and released on MGM+ and Prime Video. It is Sony’s latest entry in their ever-expanding franchise.

Based on the character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Noir was created by writers David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky and artists Carmine Di Giandomenico, who drew his first stories, and Marko Djurdjević, who designed his costume. In just 15 years, Noir has become one of the most popular and beloved elements of the mythos, and fans, young and old, have embraced it. He has been featured in video games, animated series, and feature films and will now get his live-action television series. Here is everything you need to know about Spider-Man Noir and his upcoming series.

A Breakdown of Spider-Man Noir

Spider-Man Noir, often just referred to as Noir, debuted in Spider-Man: Noir #1 in February 2009. Spider-Man Noir was part of the Noir line, an imprint of Marvel Comics that ran from 2009 to 2010 and reimagined popular Marvel heroes in a universe themed around film noir and pulp detective stories, which are designated Earth-90214.

Still named Peter Parker, this version of the character is from the 1930s Great Depression-era New York City and gains his powers after being bitten by a spider housed inside a spider-god idol, and would use his powers as a vigilante, fighting crime and even taking on Nazi’s before the United States entered World War II. He faces off against reimagining of his classic foes, including Vulture, who in this reality is a cannibal that killed Uncle Ben. Unlike the traditional Spider-Man, Noir started out using brutal and lethal force against his enemies and would have to grapple with those decisions.

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Noir was very popular among readers and fans, thanks to his distinct design and appearance in subsequent media. In 2014, Marvel launched the Spider-Verse storyline, which saw various Spider-Man from across the multiverse come together. Following the event, Noir joins the Web Warriors, a team of heroes who travel the multiverse dealing with threats to the universe that have lost their Spidey.

Noir himself would die in the Spider-Geddeon storyline, published in 2018, the same year Into the Spider-Verse would hit theaters. In 2020, following the success of Into the Spider-Verse, Marvel Comics revived the character and used the chance to draw the character more closely to the film version.

The Various Adaptations of Spider-Man Noir

Just one year after he debuted in the comics, Noir got exposed to a broader audience thanks to his appearance in the 2010 video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. Written by future Spider-Verse comic writer Dan Slott, the video game revolved around four different iterations of the character from across the multiverse teaming up, including the main 616 Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, the Ultimate Universe Spider-Man, and Noir.

Each iteration was voiced by a different actor who previously lent their voice to a Spider-Man cartoon. Noir was voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes from Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Not only did the game hint at what Dan Slott would do with the Spider-Verse comic four years later, but the game marked the first time Noir was depicted as being able to swing travel on web-lines as up to that point, he only created webbing to trap enemies or their weapons in the comics.

In March 2015, Disney XD aired a month-long event titled “Spider-Verse,” four episodes in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon that saw the series Spidey journey to other realities and bring together a team of heroes including Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Ham, Miles Morales, and course, Noir. Voiced by Milo Ventimiglia (This is Us), this version is a cynical, darker hero compared to Spider-Man. Not only does Ultimate Spider-Man help Noir in his universe, but Noir also assists the various heroes in the final episode of the event. He would later return in “Return to the Spider-Verse” the following year.

Prime Video’s Spider-Man Noir: Storylines We Hope To See in the Series

With a live-action adaptation of Spider-Man Noir coming to Prime Video, comic book fans are in for a wild ride.

In 2018, just nine years after he debuted in the comics, Noir made the leap to the big screen. He was one of the main characters in Into the Spider-Verse, voiced by Nicolas Cage. This version of the character spoke in a classic 1930s style speech pattern, one that the comics would later incorporate. Cage modeled the speech pattern on popular 1930s actors like Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, and James Cagney.

Noir returned for a non-verbal cameo at the end of Across the Spider-Verse as part of Gwen’s team to save Miles Morales and will likely play a significant role in Beyond the Spider-Verse. Cage will now play the character in live-action in his own television series.

In the 15 years since his creation, Noir has become one of the most popular alternate takes on Spidey. The costume, in particular, has become a favorite among artists in the cosplay community. The comic book version of Noir appeared as an alternate costume in the PlayStation Spider-Man game, while the Into the Spider-Verse version of Noir appeared as an unlockable costume in 2023’s Spider-Man 2 game.

Prime Video’s Noir Television Show Details

Word on a Spider-Man Noir live-action series first surfaced in 2023. The series development was put on hold due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, but on May 14, 2024, during the Prime Video upfronts, the series was officially confirmed to be greenlit with Nicolas Cage returning to play the role of Noir. The series will be titled Noir and follow an aging lucky private investigator in 1930s New York City grappling with his past life as the only superhero in the city.

Orien Uziel (Escape Room: Tournament of Champions) and Steve Lightfoot (Hannibal) will serve as showrunners and executive producers alongside film producer Amy Pascal and Into the Spider-Verse directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Harry Bradbeer, best known for directing Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2, will direct the first two episodes and serve as an executive producer. The series will premiere on MGM+ streaming service in the United States and will be released internationally on Prime Video.

Why They Can’t Call It Spider-Man Noir

One thing many fans noted with the series’ announcement was that it was titled Noir instead of Spider-Man Noir. While Noir is what he is often referred to as in the comics, many were shocked the series did not go with a more brand-recognizable name like Spider-Man. This was only compounded by the series logline implying the series would focus on a retired superhero, calling into question whether Cage would suit up as the costumed crime fighter.

Part of this might be due to the complicated rights issues involving Spider-Man, as covered in many articles, including our own on how the character joined the MCU. Sony owns the film rights to the character, but in 2015, Sony and Marvel Studios (a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company) came to an agreement. Spidey could appear in Disney-produced Marvel films, while Sony could use Marvel characters in their solo movies. Marvel Studios would develop the solo films, with Sony putting up the money while gaining most of the profits. This has led to the successful release of films featuring Tom Holland, including Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Sony Pictures and the Spider-Man Franchise

Yet, due to Spidey seemingly being locked into a deal with Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures has tried to expand its franchise beyond the titular hero. While this has worked with the critically acclaimed animated films Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse, on the live-action front, things have been more difficult. Sony has tried to launch their own shared universe titled the Spider-Man Shared Universe (SSU) with various villains and supporting characters. While Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage were box office hits, films like Morbius and Madame Web were box office and critical flops, with the next film, Kraven the Hunter, being delayed twice.

Noir is part of Sony’s plans to expand their franchise. While it will take place in its own reality, it is still part of the SSU branding that Madame Web tried to establish of the various films being part of different universes. When it comes to the television rights, it is unclear who owns what. Disney has held the animation rights since 2010, having released series like Ultimate Spider-Man and now Spidey and His Amazing Friends, but no live-action show has been attempted. Due to the complicated rights issues between Sony and Marvel, that might be why the name “Spider-Man” was dropped from the title and went to Noir.

It also could be a sign of what the series will be. It certainly sets fans’ expectations of what to expect from the series, as it might be more a traditional crime story with sprinkles of Spidey names to expand the universe. Given the Marvel Noir brand itself was launched to reimagine classic Marvel heroes in a pulp detective setting that was very different from traditional superhero television series, the Noir series might be a nice change of pace from other live-action superhero television that emphasizes creating a distinct visual style and bringing back a classic genre for a new generation. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, featuring Spider-Man Noir, is currently streaming on fuboTV.