Marvel has had a very mixed record when it comes to its TV adaptations. Shows like Loki and WandaVision gathered massive viewership numbers and were met with widespread critical acclaim. However, for every one of these hits, it feels like a miss was around the corner. After all, Secret Invasion made headlines for all the wrong reasons, while Ms. Marvel didn’t quite manage to draw as many viewers as the other Marvel series before it. However, there’s one specific TV adventure that managed to rise above the rest and captured lightning in a bottle against all odds.
We all know Spider-Man is one of the most beloved superheroes ever created, which is why he’ll always have the upper hand when it comes to the reception of any of his live-action adaptations. However, Sony and Amazon opted to do something very different with the character earlier this year by shifting the focus away from Peter Parker and making Ben Reilly the star of the show (quite literally). Furthermore, audiences didn’t visit the usual, colorful version of New York that’s set in a modern era and instead explored the twisted streets of the city that never sleeps during the Great Depression.
Spider-Noir was a bold experiment, but one that seemed to have paid off when the show was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews and secured a 92% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the series ultimately didn’t find as much success as Amazon and Sony may have hoped for, because it has been officially confirmed that Ben Reilly won’t be returning to the small screen.
Spider-Noir won’t be coming back for season 2 as the show gets officially canceled.
Spider-Man fans (like me) are probably seeing the world in black and white, and not because they are trapped in a fascinating noir thriller, but because Nicolas Cage’s time as Ben Reilly has come to an end. As Spider-Noir was canceled after just one season, but there is one silver lining: The collaboration between Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television will keep going, and it is reported that another Spider-Man-related series is “nearing” an official order
Spider-Noirwas designed to be a self-contained story with a very satisfying conclusion. Granted, the show seemed to suggest that “Ben Reilly” was a fake name used by Peter Parker to conceal his identity after the war. But beyond this unanswered mystery, there were no loose ends, and it can be argued that a second season was never really needed.
However, Cat Hardy actress Li Jun Li had stated that many actors in the show (herself included) were contractually obligated to return for a second season if it ever materialized, which signals that Sony and Amazon had definitely toyed with the idea of creating more stories in this world.
Spider-Noir was viewed for 851 million minutes during its first week, which would be considered an extremely impressive feat under normal circumstances. However, a key thing to keep in mind is that all eight episodes were released at once, meaning those minutes were spread across the entire season. On the other hand, the opening episode of Loki alone was viewed for 731 million minutes in its first week, which indicates it had more overall viewers.
It wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume Spider-Noir gained enough success to warrant the creation of another Spider-Man-related series (perhaps one starring a more well-known Spider-Man variant), but it didn’t quite reach its break-even point. After all, the Nicolas Cage-led show had an astounding budget of $400 million. Part of the reason this number is so huge is that the series was basically reshot in its entirety so that it could be viewed in Authentic Black & White and True-Hue Full Color. Initially, the show was shot exclusively in black and white.
On the bright side, this mystery show didn’t end with any unresolved storylines, and Nicolas Cage will return one more time to the role of Spider-Man Noir in 2027’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Better yet, now Amazon and Sony can create other live-action shows based on characters like Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales, Miguel O’Hara, or even a Peter Parker variant.
Only time will tell what the future holds for the friendly neighborhood hero in the TV world, but for now, we have to officially bid farewell to Ben Reilly. It was a fantastic adventure while it lasted.
Spider-Noir is now streaming on Prime Video.
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This article was originally published on www.bamsmackpow.com as Marvel officially cancels beloved TV show after just one season.
