Prime Video’s Spider-Man Series Reinvents 3 Classic Marvel Villains As Tragic, Deeply Human Characters

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Though Nicolas Cage’s character, Ben Reilly, in the Prime Video series Spider-Noir faces off against several villains, some of them have surprisingly sad backstories.

This series reimagines Spider-Man as ‘The Spider’ in a 1930s New York City setting, blending the character with classic noir themes. After a personal tragedy forces him to retire as a superhero, Ben Urich, the Spider, is drawn back into action when a new case leads him to a dangerous conspiracy involving the Irish mob boss Silvermane. A central part of his investigation involves tracking down Flint Marko, a bodyguard, at the request of an enigmatic nightclub singer named Cat Hardy.

To celebrate the show’s launch, Grant Hermanns from ScreenRant spoke with Li Jun Li and Jack Huston about Spider-Noir. When asked how their characters differed from the comics – with Li Jun Li’s Cat being a fresh take on Felicia Hardy/Black Cat and Jack Huston’s Marko being more than just a typical criminal – Li Jun Li called it “an actor’s dream” to build her version of Cat without feeling the pressure to perfectly recreate a beloved, iconic character.

The actor explained that Hardy was entirely shaped by Oren Uziel’s vision, allowing them to build the character from scratch and draw inspiration from his ideas for the performance. They combined elements of classic, alluring villains from noir films with Felicia Hardy’s established comic book background, essentially crafting a fresh origin story for the character.

We developed that, and the most crucial part was making the character relatable, just like with everyone else in the series. The show aims to demonstrate that no one is truly a villain; everyone is facing realistic, understandable challenges. They’re all forced into difficult situations where their choices might harm others, but those choices stem from their own struggles.

Huston praised the portrayal of Marko in Spider-Noir, noting the character is surprisingly romantic and hampered by his own abilities, calling the writing “beautifully done.” He described his Sandman as deeply tragic, a sentiment echoed for Abraham Popoola’s Tombstone. Huston explained that their difficult surroundings drove both characters down a villainous path.

Jack Huston explained that the show explores how people can be driven to desperate measures when they feel abandoned, especially after experiencing hardship like war. He found his character very relatable and easy to connect with because of the very human struggles he faces. He appreciated the creative freedom he and the other actors were given to develop their characters without being constrained by previous interpretations, making the whole experience enjoyable.

Since first appearing in the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon, Sandman has been portrayed in many different ways, usually as a villain. A rare and memorable exception was Thomas Haden Church’s version in Spider-Man 3, where Flint Marko was a desperate criminal trying to earn money for his sick daughter, and unintentionally caused the death of Uncle Ben.

Lonnie Lincoln, also known as Tombstone, has usually been depicted as a villain in Spider-Man stories. He’s typically shown as a smart character who sees Spider-Man as something standing in his way. The Disney+ series, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, offered a different take, portraying his criminal life as an attempt to protect his brother and his increasing attraction to power.

Although a classic noir setting would usually emphasize the villainous side of characters like Marko and Lincoln – as that genre often features detectives battling various bad guys – the show took a different approach. By portraying Marko and Popoola as war veterans driven to crime by circumstance rather than malice, they become more relatable and the show establishes a stronger foundation for their stories in potential future seasons.

Cat Hardy’s portrayal in Spider-Noir stays true to her character in the comics and other Spider-Man versions. Similar to the Batman and Catwoman relationship, Spider-Man and Black Cat have a famously complex connection, with his heroism often pushing her towards becoming a more heroic figure – a common trait of classic noir femme fatales. Though her bond with Flint suggests she and Ben won’t become a couple, their connection has the potential to develop both Cat and Marko into compelling, tragic characters, as hinted by the creators.

Spider-Noir is available to stream in its entirety on Prime Video now.

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2026-05-27 19:29