Spider-Noir Star Nicolas Cage Hopes the Show Will Inspire Teens to Seek Out the Great Black and White Films of American Cinema

Spider-Noir star Nicolas Cage has said he pushed for the Prime Video superhero series to be shot in color as well as black and white in a bid to appeal to teenagers, who he hopes will be inspired to seek out the great black and white films of American cinema.

“I said I’m all about the black and white,” the Hollywood star said in a new interview. “I designed my performance for black and white, and I’m glad I saw it that way.

“Actually, it was one of my ideas to have them shoot it in color. Because I am aware of teenagers, and I’m aware they don’t have that much experience with black and white.

“So the dream is they watch it in color and then they check it out in black and white and learn something, and then maybe go, ‘Hey, I want to see some of these movie references.’ And then they open a treasure trove of wealth, of the great American cinema. That’s the dream. I hope that happens.”

Spider-Noir follows Cage as retired gumshoe Ben Reilly, who comes out of said retirement to best some baddies in 1930s New York City. The series plays up the noir element, giving audiences the choice of watching in subgenre-accurate black and white or “true hue” color.

Spider-Noir comes out on May 25 specifically on MGM+, a linear broadcast channel in the United States. The worldwide Prime Video release of the series arrives two days later on May 27. All eight episodes will be available as a binge release, and it will not be available on the MGM+ streaming platform. The only streaming platform will be Prime Video.

Spider-Noir MGM+ and Prime Video Premiere Information:

• The series will debut domestically on MGM+’s linear broadcast channel on May 25, then globally on Prime Video on May 27.
• All eight episodes will be available as a binge release.
• It will not be available on MGM+ streaming platform. The only streaming platform will be Prime Video.
• The series will air on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.