However, the world of live-action Spider-Man releases has seen something of a different story. While we’ve had multiple people play the role of Spider-Man, these versions of the character have largely approached the hero’s story in similar ways – albeit to great effect. That said, the next live-action version of Spider-Man is set to take things in a very different direction, and one that seems decidedly promising, if perhaps a little spooky.
Nicolas Cage’s Plan On How To Play Spider-Man Is Horrifying In The Best Way
When discussing Spider-Noir in an interview with Collider, Phil Lord – who is one of this project’s producers alongside fellow Spider-Verse movie writer and producer Chris Miller – discussed lead actor Nicolas Cage’s perspective on his role as Ben Reilly, mentioning that “[Nicolas Cage] is amazing. He had this great idea, which was, ‘I want to play this like a spider pretending to be a person.‘“
Given almost every depiction we’ve seen of Spider-Man in live-action has been that of a plucky young idealistic hero – or an idealistic hero going through some challenging periods of his life, at worst – the idea we will soon seen a version of Spider-Man who is borderline not human in their personality and behavior is all the more interesting.
This is also a perspective that offers unique potential in terms of Spider-Noir‘s story, as the grittier and darker world the Spider-Noir trailers have promised suggests not only that a version of Spider-Man who behaves like a spider pretending to be a person will fit into its lore, but also be able to deal with the threats the Noir version of his world faces in a more Batman-like style, perhaps finding it easier to strike fear into his enemies’ hearts as a result.
Playing A Version Of Spider-Man As A Spider Pretending To Be Human Pays Homage To Some Of The Hero’s Most Interesting Comic Stories
Nicolas Cage playing Spider-Noir‘s iteration of the hero as “a spider pretending to be a person” also seems like an approach that’s set to work effectively given how well this, in theory, should allow this depiction of Spider-Man to draw from the wealth of lore wherein the spider side of those who wear the mantle is emphasized.
This is, unsurprisingly, something that’s true for the comic’s own version of Spider-Man Noir, whose story takes Peter Parker’s usual origins and makes them a little more intense, via having the hero be bitten by the famous spider that gives him powers while he’s investigating a crime ring, and by being born from a cocoon when his powers manifest, complete with a dream about a spider-god who foreshadows these changes.
However, Spider-Man Noir’s origins are far from the only time the Spider-Man mythos has delved a little more into a hero’s arachnid side. Peter Parker has turned into an actual spider – or spider-monster – many times throughout the comics, and for a multitude of reasons, and it’s not uncommon for both his stories and the stories of other web-swinging spider-hero variants to have their stories explore the idea of being transformed by spider powers in substantially more unsettling lights than we may be used to.
Given the glimpses we’ve gotten at Spider-Noir‘s protagonist already paint a fascinating picture when it comes to what to expect from the upcoming Marvel show, it should prove truly interesting to watch the series with the Spider-Man comments in mind, in order to see how playing the character as a spider who finds themselves in a human form effects the depiction of one of the most beloved superheroes of all time.