Why Marvel Is Replacing Peter Parker For The New Spider-Man Series

by

Even though a new Spider-Man comic series, Brand New Day, is coming out next month, the Spider-Noir series will feature a different Spider-Man. Many different versions of Spider-Man exist throughout the Spider-Verse, and while Peter Parker is the most well-known, he won’t be the main character in Spider-Noir.

Even though the Spider-Verse has space for many different heroes, the choice to replace the Spider-Noir character was unexpected. With the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie coming soon – and featuring Peter Parker – and Nicolas Cage having already played Spider-Man Noir as Peter Parker, the decision to change the character makes you wonder why. Fortunately, there is a good reason for the change.

Spider-Noir Is Replacing Peter Parker With Ben Reilly

via Prime Video

I was so excited for the Spider-Noir trailer, and it turns out Nicolas Cage isn’t playing Peter Parker! He’s actually Ben Reilly, which is a cool twist. They showed a shot of his detective office with “B. Reilly” right on the door, and Lamorne Morris even calls him Ben, so it’s definitely a different take on Spider-Man than we’re used to.

It’s common for different heroes to become Spider-Man, and many do! We’ve seen characters like Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy take on the role, along with others like Miguel O’Hara and Penny Parker. Interestingly, Ben Reilly is typically known as the Scarlet Spider, and Spider-Noir is usually portrayed as an earlier version of Peter Parker from the 1900s.

Why Nicolas Cage Is Not Playing Peter Parker In Spider-Noir

With Nicolas Cage set to play Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir instead of Peter Parker, many are wondering why the character’s identity was altered. Traditionally, Spider-Man Noir has been Peter Parker, and Ben Reilly is known as the Scarlet Spider. However, unlike some other recent changes, this isn’t because of a disagreement over character rights between Sony and Disney.

The team behind Spider-Noir revealed why they chose Ben Reilly instead of Peter Parker as the Spider-Man of their universe. According to showrunner Oren Uziel and producer Chris Lord, Peter Parker is typically seen as young and naive, while Ben Reilly better represents an older, more world-weary character. They also suggested there’s an additional, hidden reason for the change that will be revealed later in the show.

“Peter Parker feels very synonymous with a high school kid. Boyish. On his way up.” – Oren Uziel

This Peter Parker is a far cry from the one we’ve seen in films. He’s older, more cynical, and isn’t hesitant to use violence, even when intoxicated. He’s already gone through a major, life-changing experience that left him disillusioned, something that happened a long time ago.

I can’t reveal the full explanation just yet, as it will be revealed later. The story behind the character’s name, Ben Reilly, will be made clear.

The creators of Spider-Noir revealed in a recent interview that Nicolas Cage’s character, Ben Reilly, will be known as the Spider, not Spider-Man Noir. Given this unusual name and the secrecy surrounding it, it’s likely there’s a surprise planned for viewers. The series itself will eventually explain why this version isn’t Peter Parker.

Several details in Spider-Noir might hint at a surprising reveal. Just as Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider, was a clone of Peter Parker, Spider-Noir could have a similar twist involving Luke Cage. The trailer’s tagline, “With no power, comes no responsibility,” suggests that the character we see as Spider-Noir might actually be someone pretending to be him – perhaps a private investigator taking on the Spider-Noir persona.

Is Nicolas Cage Playing The Same Character From Into The Spider-Verse?

Image via Sony

When Spider-Noir was first announced, a major draw was the casting of Nicolas Cage. He previously wowed fans with his voice work as Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, leading many to believe he’d reprise the same role. However, with the project now simply titled Spider-Noir, it appears that won’t be happening.

The Spider-Man Noir character in Into the Spider-Verse was named Peter Parker, but in Spider-Noir, the character is called Ben Reilly. If Nicolas Cage is playing the same character in Spider-Noir, the story will need to explain this name change or rewrite what happened in Into the Spider-Verse. However, it’s more probable that Cage is portraying a different version of Spider-Noir from another universe.

Spider-Man Fans Will Have Plenty Of Peter Parker In 2026

Don’t worry, Spider-Man fans! Even though Peter Parker won’t appear in Spider-Noir, there’s plenty more coming soon. Tom Holland will return as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st, and the second season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will stream on Disney+ in Fall 2026.

Beyond the already announced movie and animated series, there’s potential for even more Spider-Man content. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker might appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which premieres December 18th, although this hasn’t been officially confirmed. Given that Doomsday will explore the multiverse, the film could even include several different versions of Spider-Man, similar to what we saw in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

With hints that Spider-Noir will have a surprising turn of events, there’s a chance Peter Parker might appear as a supporting character. Even though Nicolas Cage isn’t playing Peter Parker in Spider-Noir, Spider-Man fans still have a lot to look forward to this year.

Read More

2026-02-12 23:30