THE MARVELS AND MORBIUS ACTOR JOINS NICOLAS CAGE'S SPIDER-MAN NOIR SERIES

Abraham Popoola (Atlas) is set to play the role opposite Nicolas Cage in Spider-Noir, the upcoming MGM+ and Prime Video live-action series based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir. This Sony Pictures TV-produced series, at one time titled simply Noir, has been rebranded with a new title that more clearly signifies its place under the Spider-Man umbrella. Popoola's character is a World War I veteran who seeks out chances for betterment in life.

In addition to Cage, Popoola joins the previously announced cast, including Lamorne Morris and Li Jun Li. Spider-Noir comes from executive producers and co-showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot. The series follows an aging and down-on-his-luck private investigator working in 1930s New York, played by Cage, who must confront his past life as the city's lone superhero. It has been confirmed that, unlike Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man Noir has the ability to talk in this upcoming series.

Harry Bradbeer is set to direct the first two episodes of the series and executive produce. Uziel and Lightfoot developed the series with the creative team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal, who all serve as executive producers. Spider-Noir will make its debut in the U.S. on MGM+'s linear channel and globally on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.

Popoola has most recently been praised for his current appearance in Netflix's sci-fi film Atlas, starring as Casca Decius, a sleeper-cell AI of Jennifer Lopez. He has several upcoming projects, including John Wick: Ballerina, which will hit theaters on June 6, 2025, in which he stars in a significant role. His television work also spans many critically acclaimed titles, some of which include Slow Horses for Apple TV+, The Rig for Amazon, The Curse for Channel 4, Andor and Extraordinary for Disney+, The Great for Hulu, and Starstruck for Max.

The actor has also appeared in two previous Marvel projects, playing Ryan in Columbia's Morbius and Dag in Marvel Studios' The Marvels. Other titles in Popoola's filmography include performances in Disney's Cruella and Netflix's Jingle Jangle. With such a broad and accomplished resume, Popoola brings a great deal of experience and skill to his role in Spider-Noir. He is represented by IAG, Artists First, Independent Talent Group, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.

A Very Welcoming Addition to the Marvel Universe

Involvement from the team of Into the Spider-Verse is especially promising, considering people rave about the film due to its unique storytelling and amazing visuals. To that end, it can be foreseen that Spider-Noir will, under the influence of Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal, carry just as much creativity and panache as possible into the series. That they've allied themselves with Uziel and Lightfoot does augur, then, that Spider-Noir will not only pay tribute to its comic roots but also push the boundaries of what's doable in a superhero show.

Add Harry Bradbeer, who has worked on Fleabag and Killing Eve, and you might understand why this project is scoring big. He will be directing the first two -- same as the pilot, only this time he will also executive produce -- and setting the tone for the rest with a series of dark and broodier takes, as noir fiction requires, yet character development and action aren't altogether lost in the mix.

The Spider-Noir filming window is getting closer and closer, and already the anticipation is high for a series that has huge potential to be one of the best Marvel TV series. With an accomplished cast, top-tier production staff, and an engaging storyline set in an atmospheric period, Spider-Noir becomes highly recommended reading for Marvel enthusiasts and noir-drama aficionados alike.

Source: Deadline

2024-08-01T08:19:35Z