One Of Spider-Man’s Most Controversial Villains Could Be Crucial To Prime Video’s Live-Action Show

by

A popular fan theory about Nicolas Cage’s character in Spider-Noir suggests we might soon see a live-action version of the Jackal, one of Spider-Man’s most debated villains. If true, this would add another layer to the already impressive group of Spider-Man enemies the series is assembling.

From what we’ve learned about the new Spider-Man show on Prime Video, Silvermane seems like the most likely main villain. Other characters, including Molten Man and Sandman, are also expected to appear. However, it’s probably safe to assume Nicolas Cage’s Ben Reilly will face even more enemies that haven’t been revealed yet.

It’s likely some characters are concealing their true identities, and one of them could be the Jackal. This is especially true if Nicolas Cage’s Spider chose the identity of Ben Reilly (from Marvel comics) for reasons connected to the original story.

The Jackal Is A Controversial Marvel Comics VIllain And The Creator Of Ben Reilly

First appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 in 1965, Dr. Miles Warren was a science professor at Empire State University. He taught both Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy and initially served as a small supporting character, mainly connected to the challenges Peter faced balancing college with his life as Spider-Man.

Ten years after Gwen Stacy’s death, in The Amazing Spider-Man #148, Marvel revealed a surprising twist: the villain known as the Jackal was actually Dr. Miles Warren. It turned out Warren had been secretly in love with Gwen and was devastated by her death, which drove him to madness.

Miles Warren, known as the Jackal, cloned Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy in a complicated scheme to punish Spider-Man, who the public believed was responsible for Gwen’s death. One of these clones eventually developed his own storyline and was reintroduced in 1994 as Ben Reilly, also known as the Scarlet Spider.

This storyline has faced a lot of criticism over the years, mainly because Miles Warren’s sudden descent into villainy felt unearned. Critics also pointed out that the idea of him having a secret, unreturned love for his student Gwen Stacy came across as forced and out of character.

Many fans found it unconvincing that Dr. Warren was revealed to be the Jackal. This reveal, and the reasons behind it, contributed to the Clone Saga becoming infamous among Spider-Man readers.

Why The Jackal May Be Hiding In Spider-Noir

The fact that this character is tied to Ben Reilly’s backstory makes some fans wonder if he might be connected to Spider-Noir. It’s tempting to think the show just gave Cage’s character the name “Ben Reilly” to avoid comparisons to the classic Spider-Man, but a real connection from the comics is still possible.

The new trailer for Spider-Noir shows a strange, muscular version of Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, reminding fans of the original comic books that explained the origins of villains like the Jackal and the Scarlet Spider. Those comics revealed that the Jackal created many clones of Peter Parker, and most of them didn’t survive. This series might be hinting at a similar story.

If the Spider-Man in the Spider-Noir story is actually a clone, we might see Dr. Miles Warren involved somehow. He could appear in a memory or flashback, or potentially be revealed as the story’s hidden enemy.

Read More

2026-02-27 19:38