Most superheroes enjoy animated and live-action depictions with varying results. While live-action films and series tend to enjoy greater prestige and financial success, many fans started their Marvel journey with cartoons. Animated movies like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse often capture the comic book source material better than its competitors. Unfortunately, many audiences have an unshakable urge to see the things they enjoyed animated in live action, regardless of the negative consequences. Spider-Man Noir might discover that issue when Noir hits Amazon Prime.
Sony has a strained relationship with comic book movie fans. Spider-Verse seems to be their main success, but they were involved in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film featuring the character. Every Sony effort comes with an expectation of failure, while Marvel projects are judged on their merits. This well-earned negative reputation may never fade, even as the studio unleashes new and unique attempts.
Sony is making a live-action Spider-Man Noir series
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Title |
Noir |
|---|---|
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Showrunners |
Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot |
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Director |
Harry Bradbeer |
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Star |
Nicolas Cage |
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Streaming Services |
MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video |
Noir earned its series order this month from MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video. Sony and Amazon conceptualized the series last February, but the writer’s strike delayed any further work. The announcement explained the show’s premise. Nicolas Cage, reprising his role from Into the Spider-Verse, stars as a private investigator in 1930s New York. He’s past his prime and down on his luck. His superhero days are behind him, but that aspect of his life continues to impact him. Many fans have noticed the bizarre absence of the names “Peter Parker” and “Spider-Man.” This abnormal approach to branding suggests a massive departure from the film franchise that introduced many audiences to Spider-Man Noir. The biggest alteration will be the fact that fans will see Nic Cage in the role this time because Noir will be filmed in live-action.
The character debuted in animation
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse unquestionably introduced most fans to Spider-Man Noir. The character first appeared in the comics in 2009 as one of the first Marvel Noir projects. Later innovations introduced hard-boiled versions of characters like Daredevil and the Punisher, but Spider-Man Noir has proven to be the only consistent standout. His first appearance outside the comics came in the 2010 video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. That Beenox title introduced many casual fans to the Spider-Verse concept eight years before the beloved movies. The game lets players control four versions of Spider-Man with four radically different gameplay experiences. Many newcomers met Noir, 2099, and the Ultimate universe’s Spider-Man through this game. Noir next appeared in the third season of Ultimate Spider-Man 2015. These smaller depictions expanded Noir’s popularity beyond the comics, but they still paled in comparison to his big-screen debut.
The overwhelming majority of fans know Spider-Man Noir through his appearance in Into the Spider-Verse. He appears as a drastic deviation from the mainstream Peter Parker most fans knew. While Peter B. Parker and Gwen Stacy play more central roles, Noir joins Spider-Ham and Sp//dr in a different camp. They exist to demonstrate the radically different takes on Spider-Man that can emerge from the multiverse concept. Noir is meant to cause the audience’s jaw to drop, just as it does when they see a cartoon pig or a mecha wearing their hero’s colors. That juxtaposition in tone and aesthetic works, but a solo series will have to dig into the heart of the character.
Sony’s live-action efforts have struggled
Every entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has been an unmitigated disaster. They’re notorious “so bad it’s good” movies for those who love to laugh at unintentionally hilarious moments. Unfortunately, the constant failure will likely taint any new attempt to solve this problem. Noir will likely exist outside the current SSU, especially since the character lives in an alternate universe. The series will, however, still represent another messy attempt to capture the potential success this brand should bring. Fans love the striking animation of the Spider-Verse movies. Their aesthetic beauty and unique design elements helped to establish characters like Noir as fan favorites. Moving away from that presentation threatens to lose appeal. A stylized live-action depiction will likely never capture everything the Spider-Verse once represented. It has to contend with the negative expectations and comparisons against the original depiction.
Spider-Man Noir will make his live-action debut in Noir. The series could be a leap forward for Sony’s attempts to cash in on this franchise. It could also be another embarrassing mess dragging a beloved character through the mud. Nic Cage’s attachment to the project will draw excitement, but it’s no seal of quality. While the original creators, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, stepped in as executive producers, Noir remains an unusual pitch. The transition could turn a dynamic character into something less interesting, but it could also open a new door to every Spider-Verse Spider-Person.
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