How ‘Breaking Bad’ Inspired Nicolas Cage’s Role in ‘Spider-Noir’
Nicolas Cage’s venture into television with ‘Spider-Noir’ has a surprising backstory linked to one of the most acclaimed TV dramas ever, ‘Breaking Bad’. Co-showrunner Oren Uziel revealed that AMC’s ‘Breaking Bad’ significantly influenced Cage’s decision to take on his first major television series role.
This insight came from an interview where Uziel discussed the casting process and Cage’s initial hesitations about transitioning to long-form television storytelling.
Uziel noted that Cage had never fully committed to a television series prior to ‘Spider-Noir’. Primarily known for his film work, the actor was apprehensive about changing formats. As Uziel expressed, “He’s a movie guy, and I think he was nervous.”
The pivotal moment, according to Uziel, stemmed from Cage’s personal life. He mentioned that Cage’s son introduced him to ‘Breaking Bad’, which altered his view on television. Uziel even remarked, “I recently thanked Vince Gilligan for helping me get Nic Cage.”
Watching ‘Breaking Bad’ reportedly led Cage to reconsider what television could offer. Instead of viewing it as a lesser format compared to film, he began to see it as a more cinematic and character-driven medium. This shift in perspective made him more receptive to the ‘Spider-Noir’ project.
Uziel emphasized that this was crucial because the creative direction of ‘Spider-Noir’ was intended to feel more like a film than a conventional series. He cited classic Hollywood films as his influences, mentioning titles like ‘Double Indemnity’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘His Girl Friday’, and ‘Chinatown’ as key inspirations for the show’s tone and style.
According to Uziel, this cinematic approach helped Cage bridge the gap to television. Once he recognized that ‘Spider-Noir’ was being crafted with a strong film-style identity, he became more willing to join the project. After watching ‘Breaking Bad’, Uziel recalled Cage’s reaction as, “Okay, I think I can make a TV show.”
After signing on, Cage took an active role in shaping his character. Uziel described him as fully committed from the start of production, stating, “He’s prepped. He learned every script before the table read.” The actor collaborated closely with the creative team to refine his role and develop the character’s tone.
Uziel added that the process felt very collaborative. They worked through Cage’s ideas together to adjust the character as needed. “We shaped the character together, and it was really like a team effort,” he explained.
‘Spider-Noir’ is based on the Marvel Comics version of Spider-Man Noir, featuring an older private investigator version of the hero in a stylized 1930s New York City. The series combines superhero storytelling with noir crime drama and exists within an alternate universe of Sony’s Spider-Man franchise.
The show premiered on MGM+ before becoming available globally on Prime Video. It features Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly / The Spider, alongside Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson.
Early critical responses reported by MGM+ and Amazon MGM Studios indicate that Cage’s performance has received widespread acclaim, with many praising his dedication to the role and the show’s impressive cinematic style.
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