Crucial Spider-Noir Hero’s Real-Life Inspiration Revealed By Lamorne Morris

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Spider-Noir is set in 1930s New York City and is inspired by the style of classic American noir films that became popular in the 1940s.

This Spider-Man story takes place in its own separate world, pitting the hero against classic foes like Sandman and Tombstone. He’ll team up with characters such as Black Cat and Robbie Robertson, alongside a supporting cast including Luke Cage, Li Jun Li, Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Karen Rodriguez, and Jack Huston.

Before the release of Spider-Noir on Prime Video, ScreenRant hosted a screening and Q&A session with the show’s stars, Morris, Huston, and creator Oren Uziel. During the discussion, which covered Nicolas Cage’s unique approach to the character and the benefits of watching the episodes in both color and black-and-white, Morris shared what inspired his performance as journalist Robbie Robertson.

For Robbie, true heroism means having the facts and sharing them honestly, and always keeping your promises.

Ben never asked for his powers, but he has them, and right now, people really need help. It’s the time after the war, things are tough economically, and there are always those who would take advantage of the situation. If you have a gift – whether it’s the ability to swing between buildings or simply helping a neighbor with a chore like taking out the trash – use it! Every little bit counts, and even small acts can be heroic. That’s my belief, and Robbie shares it too.

Morris not only discovered what Robbie truly believed and made those beliefs match his own, but he also researched historical figures to find someone who could serve as a model for the character. He confessed, “I’m not sure where the idea for Robbie originated, but I believe it was Ted Poston who inspired him.”

Even if the comic book character wasn’t inspired by this person, the actor chose to base his portrayal on them.

I’ve always been curious about Robbie, and you get little bits and pieces about him from the comics and the Raimi movies. But while I was digging around, researching what journalism was like back in the day, I stumbled upon Ted Poston. He’s considered a pioneer – they call him the Dean of Black Journalism – and it’s amazing how many doors he opened and how many obstacles he overcame.

He revealed a lot about what was really going on in New York City, which was difficult since he was often denied entry to certain places. Because many establishments were segregated, he had to go to great lengths and use unconventional methods to gather information and share it with the public.

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2026-05-31 20:40