Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery is going to be dusted off in a very unconventional manner. A familiar villain is returning to live-action Marvel storytelling, but not in the glossy, high-tech world fans might expect. Rather, he is moving into the darkness of a 1930s-inspired noir world.
Jack Huston has also been added to the live-action series, ‘Spider-Noir’, in which he will portray Flint Marco aka Sandman. The show stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly. This marks Cage’s first live-action Spider-Man role after voicing Spider-Man Noir in the animated Spider-Verse films.
‘Spider-Noir’ Revives A Fan-Favorite Villain In A Gritty New Setting
Huston’s Flint Marco is described as hired muscle who quickly crosses paths with Cage’s Ben Reilly, leading, quite literally, to a confrontation that invites him to “go pound sand.” It is not officially stated that this version of Marco will completely turn into Sandman.
However, the appearance of the character is enough to create speculation. Should Marco turn into the iconic villain, Huston would be the second actor to play Sandman in live-action, after Thomas Haden Church appeared in ‘Spider-Man 3’ and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’.
Related: ‘Spider-Noir’ Series Plot Reportedly Set To Follow “Golden Age Of Detective Fiction”
The noir setting adds an intriguing wrinkle, potentially grounding Sandman less in spectacle and more in grit, crime, and desperation. It is not merely a nostalgia play. Placing a familiar villain in a completely new time and atmosphere, ‘Spider-Noir’ has an opportunity to see what these characters are like outside of CGI fights.
Why Sandman’s Return Could Feel Completely Different
Sandman will not be the only one hiding in the shadows. Silvermane, portrayed by Brendan Gleeson, is also a part of the series, and he is placed in the middle of the crime bosses in the show. The story has been described by showrunner Oren Uziel as a typical detective story, in which apparently unrelated cases gradually converge.
In this adaptation, Ben Reilly is not keen on becoming a hero. He is dragged into a far bigger conspiracy, one that connects the fate of Silvermane to his own history and makes him face up to what he is.
In case you missed it: The Real Reason Why Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir Is Now Ben Reilly
It is that emotional appeal that may make ‘Spider-Noir’ stand out among earlier Spider-Man TV projects. The eight-part series will be available on MGM+ and Prime Video and will be offered in black-and-white and color. No premiere date has been set, but Spider-Noir will presumably be released in 2026, along with other big Spidey projects at Sony, like ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
You might like to read: Who Is Silvermane? Everything You Need To Know About ‘Spider-Noir’ Antagonist
