Nicolas Cage Reveals He Suggested Filming ‘Spider-Noir’ in Color — Here’s Why

Nicolas Cage has shared new details about the creative choices behind Spider-Noir, explaining why the series will be released in both black-and-white and color.

The upcoming series reimagines Spider-Man in a darker, detective-style story set in 1930s New York. Cage plays an older version of the hero, Ben Reilly, also known as The Spider. The show mixes superhero storytelling with classic noir film style, focusing on crime, mood, and a more grounded tone.

Originally, Spider-Noir was designed to fully embrace black-and-white visuals, staying close to old Hollywood filmmaking. But Cage says he pushed for a second color version because he wanted younger viewers to connect with it more easily.

He explained: “You don’t only have to shoot it in black and white; you can also get teenagers, who might be watching, by shooting in color with almost a colorized feel. And maybe that’ll make them interested in watching it in black and white.”

Cage’s idea was not to replace the original noir style, but to use color as a way to bring new audiences into it. The goal was to make younger viewers curious about black-and-white films rather than avoid them completely.

According to him, this idea was supported by the creative team early in production. Because of that, both versions were planned from the start. This also affected how the show was made, including lighting, camera work, costumes, and even how scenes were performed.

Even with the color version available, the creators say the series still stays true to its noir roots. The story is heavily inspired by classic detective films and old Hollywood storytelling, but with a superhero twist placed into that world.

Cage also reportedly studied old film actors while building his version of the character. He drew inspiration from names like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson to shape the tone and personality of his role.

The series is set to premiere on May 25 in the United States, with a global release on May 27 on Prime Video. Both black-and-white and color versions of Spider-Noir will be available when it launches.

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