Nicolas Cage-starring ‘Spider-Noir’ rejected by Prime Video even after it was well-received by many
The Prime Video/MGM+ series, Spider-Noir, has been canceled after eight episodes and won’t be swinging back for a Season 2. At least not on Prime Video.
Even after Spider-Noir headed into the first weekend of Emmy ceremonies with 11 nominations, the most of any Prime Video program this year. Spider-Noir was the second series ordered and the first to make it to the screen under Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television, based on Sony Pictures’ Universe of Marvel Characters.
The first, Spider-Man spinoff Silk: Spider Society, was scrapped, paving the way for Spider-Noir.
Based on Marvel Comics, Spider-Man Noir, Oren Uziel created a Spidey masterpiece for television with Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly. The series takes place during the Great Depression, where Ben investigates a murder that opens up a casket of secrets. In the series, Ben is 1930s New York’s only superhero, The Spider, who’s not been seen for a while.
Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot are showrunners and executive producers of the show. Harry Bradbeer directed and executive produced the first two episodes. On May 25, Spider-Noir originally premiered on the linear MGM+ channel, and after that, on May 27, it was streamed on Prime Video with options to watch in Authentic Black & White and True-Hue Full Color. And as per Nielsen’s streaming content ratings, the series scored a whopping 2.6 billion viewing minutes in the first four weeks.
But amidst all this, Prime Video decided to pull the plug on the show. Factors affecting it were:
- A breakout in viewership as it dropped from Prime Video’s daily Top 10, lacking long-term staying power when compared to a few other shows like Reacher, Off Campus, Ride Or Die, affecting the renewal math of cost against performance
- Lavishly shooting it in two formats raised the production cost
- Spider-Noir was never a full-fledged acceptance, but was rather a test case under its Sony deal to evaluate other Marvel/Spider-Verse projects
And thus, sealing the fate of one of the wonderful Marvel series. For now, there’s no indication that Spider-Noir Season 2 will happen elsewhere on any other OTT platform.
Pic Credits: Sony/Prime/MGM+
