Nicolas Cage Claims ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Saved ‘Spider-Noir’ From Cancellation

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Live-action Spider-Man projects have taken some unexpected turns in recent years, but few seemed as improbable as ‘Spider-Noir.’ The series follows an aging, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York who must confront his past life as the city’s sole superhero, with Nicolas Cage portraying Ben Reilly. It premiered on MGM+ on May 25 and became available on Prime Video two days later.

The show introduced a unique concept that no Marvel-adjacent series had attempted before. Each episode was presented in two formats, “Authentic Black & White” and “True-Hue Full Color,” prompting critics to choose their favorites. Some reviewers preferred the gritty, moody black-and-white aesthetic, while others enjoyed switching between the two versions after each episode.

However, this dual-format approach almost didn’t come to fruition. Cage believes that ‘Godzilla Minus One’ played a crucial role in ensuring ‘Spider-Noir’ was made. He noted that Amazon was “terrified of the black & white” format, so he proposed a compromise, inspired by the kaiju film, suggesting that the show could be produced in both styles.

Having seen ‘Godzilla Minus One,’ which was released in full color and later in a black-and-white version titled ‘Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color,’ a nod to the original ‘Gojira,’ Cage’s pitch aimed to appeal to younger viewers who might find black and white outdated, while also catering to fans who appreciate the monochrome version. According to Cage, this decision was pivotal in saving the series.

This isn’t the first time Cage has elaborated on his reasoning. In an earlier conversation with Esquire, he mentioned that he suggested the two-version strategy from the start due to Amazon’s apprehension about black and white, arguing that the show was intended for all ages. He also shared that he first viewed the Godzilla film in color in Japan and found it stunning, but felt it looked even better when reissued in black and white, reminiscent of classic ‘Godzilla’ films.

His timing proved advantageous, as the black-and-white release was successful. ‘Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color’ debuted in North American theaters on January 26, 2024, for a limited one-week run. It propelled the film back into the domestic top 10, achieving a remarkable 264% week-over-week increase in box office revenue, making it the third-highest-grossing foreign-language film in U.S. history.

The film’s success extended beyond its re-release. ‘Godzilla Minus One’ won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, marking the franchise’s first Oscar nomination and win in its 70-year history, with a production budget of under $15 million. This made it an easy reference for Cage when advocating for the series to executives.

Cage was not only the star of ‘Spider-Noir’ but also served as an executive producer alongside Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal, the Oscar-winning team behind ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ This likely added weight to his pitch during discussions.

Screenshot 2026 09 05 at 08 06 20 Spider Noir Rotten Tomatoes

The dual format attracted a significant audience, with ‘Spider-Noir’ accumulating 2.6 billion viewing minutes in its first six weeks, according to Nielsen. Despite this, Prime Video ultimately canceled the series after one season and eight episodes.

This leaves Cage’s narrative with a bittersweet conclusion. While a black-and-white Godzilla movie may have been instrumental in bringing ‘Spider-Noir’ to life, it could not secure a second season. Meanwhile, Sony and Prime Video are collaborating to adapt ‘The Clone Saga’ into a TV series.

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