EXCLUSIVE: Oren Uziel, the showrunner of Spider-Noir, discusses the development of Nicolas Cage’s new dark Spider-Man series.

      Few superhero franchises continue to command pop culture like Spider-Man. With anticipated films such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse generating excitement, Sony is now broadening the web-slinger’s universe into streaming, teaming up with MGM+ and Prime Video for a live-action series titled Spider-Noir, created by Oren Uziel.

      Set in the 1930s, this noir thriller features Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a private investigator who has long relinquished his masked identity, “The Spider.” However, when super-powered criminals begin to appear in New York City, Reilly is forced to face his past and embrace his role as a superhero once more.

      In a conversation with Digital Trends, Uziel shares his experience as a first-time showrunner on Spider-Noir, collaborating with Cage, and developing a Spider-Man narrative that diverges from the usual.

      This interview has been condensed for brevity and clarity.

      Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Prime Video) / Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Prime Video)

      Digital Trends: I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me today. It's a pleasure to speak with you.

      Uziel: It's nice to meet you too.

      Digital Trends: How are you doing today?

      Uziel: I'm doing well, thanks. I'm excited to be in New York. It's a fantastic city, and I haven't been here in a while.

      Digital Trends: You've been a screenwriter in Hollywood for quite some time now, but Spider-Noir is your first TV project as a showrunner. Can you describe the experience for you?

      Uziel: It was surprisingly smooth yet incredibly challenging. I pitched the idea, wrote the pilot, established the writers' room, and began preparations—all in the right order without significant delays. But yes, being a showrunner is a huge responsibility.

      Having a co-showrunner was beneficial because he was experienced and provided guidance. I know quite a bit after working in this industry for a long time, but I learned that TV is quite similar to films; it just involves more episodes and larger infrastructure. It’s a lot to manage—being a showrunner can be overwhelming.

      Digital Trends: What inspired you to take on Spider-Noir?

      Uziel: I have a deep love for noir and Spider-Man. I was fortunate to previously work with Phil [Lord], Chris [Miller], and Amy [Pascal], the producers, many times before... When they presented this project, blending Spider-Man with noir set in the 30s—an era filled with deco romance—I was sold. It felt like the first TV opportunity I was truly passionate about.

      Digital Trends: I admire the style and execution of Spider-Noir. What specific inspirations did you draw from, both within and outside the comics? What story were you aiming to tell?

      Uziel: It’s definitely a collision of those two genres... It doesn't solely come from the comic or the noir world. We were primarily influenced by noir, considering the setting and narrative style. A significant idea we discussed was: “What if you created a Humphrey Bogart film where Bogart was Spider-Man?”

      So, you have the classic private detective tale, but we aimed to subvert expectations by giving our protagonist powers a typical detective wouldn’t possess. Moreover, we’re presenting a Spider-Man story never before told since he’s portrayed at an older age and grappling with issues far more profound than those of a high school student.

      Digital Trends: With Nic Cage in the lead, known for his intensity, what was the experience of working with him? How does this character differ from other Spider-People we’ve seen in film and television?

      Prime Video / Prime Video

      Uziel: Several aspects set him apart. He is older, not a kid… Nic is remarkably prepared and professional. Some may expect him to be that larger-than-life character, but he often surprises you with how straightforward, quiet, and thoughtful he can be.

      He read the material and engaged with it, quickly memorizing the scripts. By the table read, he knew everything by heart and focused on making this character distinct from previous iterations.

      We both recognized that we didn’t want to offer yet another version without infusing our unique approach. We contemplated what really affected Reilly and how becoming Spider changed him. “What if being Spider brings more challenges in terms of his humanity than we realize? What if he has become more Spider than man, and how does that shape his daily life?”

      Digital Trends: Nic indeed gave a fantastic performance, and it seemed like he genuinely enjoyed the role, potentially one of his best yet.

      Uziel: Thank you! He was initially hesitant about working in TV, associating it with sitcoms and such. However, once he grasped our vision, he became excited and fully invested, arriving on set daily with fresh references and ideas—always so insightful and clever.