Nicolas Cage to Play Spider-Noir's Ben Reilly, Not Peter Parker

The upcoming Spider-Noir series will feature a different Spider-Man than the traditional Peter Parker.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Despite Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to premiere just a month later, the upcoming series Spider-Noir has decided to replace Peter Parker as Spider-Man. The first trailer for Spider-Noir revealed that Nicolas Cage is playing a character named Ben Reilly, not Peter Parker. Showrunner Oren Uziel and producer Chris Lord explained that they chose Ben Reilly to convey that he's an older and more jaded version of the character compared to the typical Peter Parker.

Why it matters

This change from the traditional Peter Parker Spider-Man to a new character named Ben Reilly is a surprising move, as Nicolas Cage has previously voiced the Peter Parker version of Spider-Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The creators have hinted that there is a specific reason for the switch that will be explained within the show, leaving fans curious about the potential twist in store.

The details

In the Spider-Noir trailer, the character played by Nicolas Cage is referred to as "Ben" and his detective office displays the name "B. Reilly." This is a departure from the traditional Spider-Man Noir, who has historically been a version of Peter Parker from the early 20th century. The showrunners explained that they chose Ben Reilly to convey an older and more jaded character compared to the typical Peter Parker, who is often associated with boyishness and innocence.

  • Spider-Noir is set to premiere on Prime Video on May 27, 2026.
  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will feature the traditional Peter Parker Spider-Man, is set to premiere on July 31, 2026.

The players

Ben Reilly

The character played by Nicolas Cage in the upcoming Spider-Noir series, who is described as an older and more jaded version of the traditional Spider-Man.

Oren Uziel

The showrunner of Spider-Noir, who explained the decision to replace Peter Parker with Ben Reilly.

Chris Lord

The producer of Spider-Noir, who also discussed the reasons behind the character change.

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What they’re saying

“This character's very different from the Peter Parker from the movies. He's older and jaded, and not afraid to punch a guy in the face drunkenly. He already had his Chinatown disillusionment moment that happened years and years ago.”

— Oren Uziel, Showrunner (ScreenRant)

“I have to be coy about the reasons, because you'll find out. The reason he's named Ben Reilly is explained.”

— Chris Lord, Producer (ScreenRant)

What’s next

Fans will have to wait for the release of Spider-Noir on Prime Video on May 27, 2026, to find out the specific reasons behind the decision to replace Peter Parker with Ben Reilly as the series' protagonist.

The takeaway

The decision to replace the traditional Peter Parker Spider-Man with a new character named Ben Reilly, played by Nicolas Cage, is a surprising move that has left fans curious about the potential twist in store for the Spider-Noir series. While Peter Parker will still be featured in other upcoming Spider-Man projects, this change highlights the creative freedom that the Spider-Verse allows for exploring different interpretations of the iconic superhero.