Making a live-action spin-off of an animated film is a distinct type of risk. This is particularly true for Sony and Prime Video’s Spider-Noir, which will feature Nicolas Cage as the character he stole the spotlight with in . That animated film was a visual treat, so there might be a slight drop in translating that story to live action.
Things have become even more complicated due to an exclusive new look at the series. While hinted at a high-contrast black-and-white look similar to Sin City, the streamer will reportedly offer audiences the option to watch the show in color as well. Two versions of Spider-Noir will be available for streaming on Prime Video: one will be a stylized monochrome, and the other is the show’s own version of Technicolor.
According to co-showrunner Oren Uziel, the Spider-Noir team went to great efforts to achieve a vintage-looking color effect. “It appears like a black and white film that has been somewhat colorized,” he told Esquire. “That was one of the inspirations for how to do it.”
Not every frame was recolored manually, but the team’s patented process was comprehensive. On-set cameras captured digital footage that was later adjusted into both grayscale and grainy, vintage color. Maintaining that Old Hollywood look while incorporating the full range of color and light was a challenge, but early images suggest a payoff that will surely satisfy the picky. This homage to Technicolor even has a name: “True-Hue.” There is no specific release date for Spider-Noir yet, but when it officially launches on Prime Video, fans will be able to customize their own experience.
“The fact is, they both work and they’re beautiful for different reasons,” Cage told Esquire. “The color is highly saturated and gorgeous. I think teenage viewers will appreciate the color, but I also want them to have the option. If they want to experience the concept in black and white, perhaps that will spark some interest in them to watch earlier movies and enjoy that as an art form too.”
Spider-Noir is already a risky project, but it’s good to see its creators embrace that to create something new, rather than playing it safe. And if the show is successful, it will be nice to have a reason to watch it twice.