Nicolas Cage and Spider-Noir: How Noir Classics Shape the New Spider-Man Series

Spider-Noir stands apart from traditional Spider-Man stories by merging familiar superhero battles with the gritty aesthetics of classic film noir. The series follows Ben Reilly, also known as the Spider, a former hero turned private investigator after losing the love of his life. This unique premise is further enriched by nods to iconic noir films like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon.

Nicolas Cage’s Noir Inspiration

For actor Nicolas Cage, the legendary Humphrey Bogart serves as the perfect guide to blending hard-boiled detective fiction with superhero action. Cage shared his admiration for Bogart’s ability to find amusement in chaos during a conversation with Den of Geek.

“The thing I always enjoyed about watching Bogart, especially in movies like The Big Sleep, is that he seemed amused by other people’s bad behavior,” Cage explained. “He would start to laugh at other people’s wickedness, he got tickled by it. I tried to put a little of that into Spider-Noir. If Li Jun Li’s character Cat Hardy was doing something dangerous, it would amuse Ben Reilly. He’d think, ‘Oh, I know this is so much fun,’ just like Bogart would be doing.”

The showrunner, Oren Uziel, was deeply impressed by Cage’s dedication to the noir style. He recalled a memorable table read where Cage unexpectedly performed an entire scene in the manner of Edward G. Robinson, a star of films like Little Caesar, Scarlet Street, and Double Indemnity.

“We were out to lunch at a restaurant in Los Angeles, long before we had started shooting, and he had already memorized half the script. He suddenly said, ‘I’m going to do this one like Edward G. Robinson,’ and he just did an entire scene,” Uziel recounted.

Oren Uziel’s Love for Noir and Spider-Man

Uziel, who has always been a fan of both Spider-Man and film noir, saw the potential in a Spider-Man series set in 1930s New York City with a noir aesthetic. His passion for the project was evident from the start.

“I always loved Spider-Man, but I’ve always also loved noir. So when they came to me with the idea of making a standalone Spider-Man show set in 1930s New York City that’s film noir, I felt like I was the obvious person they should be talking to,” Uziel said. “I asked them to please let me do this.”

Uziel also highlighted The Third Man (1949) as a major influence. Directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene, the film features a haunting zither score by Anton Karas and stars Orson Welles as the enigmatic criminal Harry Lime. Uziel praised the film’s romantic intrigue and stylish cinematography.

“Orson Welles, and the way it’s shot, the relationships, the intrigue, all in postwar Vienna,” he said with an enthusiastic grin. “It’s just so romantic. There are shots we stole from all our favorite noirs… Well, lovingly homaged.”

Lamorne Morris on Playing Joseph “Robbie” Robertson

Actor Lamorne Morris takes on the role of Joseph “Robbie” Robertson, a key member of Spider-Man’s supporting cast who has rarely appeared in live-action adaptations. In Spider-Noir, Robertson serves as the voice of reason.

“He’s the voice of reason,” Morris explained, noting that Robertson is not a top-ranking editor in this noir-inspired version of the character.