Spider-Man's Identity Change In Prime Video's Live-Action Show May Have Deeper Meaning Than You Think

There may be a dark, hidden meaning behind the change in direction Spider-Noir is taking with the identity of Nicolas Cage’s character. Rather than go with the more traditional name, Prime Video’s live-action Spider-Man series has elected to go with the name “Ben Reilly” for its version of the web-slinging hero.

As a series set in an alternate universe, it’s not actually necessary for Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man to be anyone but Peter Parker, regardless of how different his life may seem from what most expect from the character. After all, the Spider-Man Noir from Marvel Comics that he’s based on is also named Peter Parker.

Spider-Noir’s Ben Reilly May Be A Peter Parker Clone

Naturally, this raises suspicions as to what has really motivated the abandonment of the Peter Parker identity. Spider-Noir showrunner Oren Uziel indicated that it had to do – at least partially – with separating Cage’s character from Peter in the minds of the audience, given their vastly different backgrounds and personalities.

But Uziel also acknowledged that there is a reason why the name “Ben Reilly” specifically was chosen. And this may hint at a tragic reveal about the history of the show’s lead character, as well as confirm that he isn’t Ben Reilly in-name-only. The essence of the Ben Reilly comic character boils down to the fact that he is a clone of Peter Parker, and that could turn out to be true in the show too.

A shot in the Spider-Noir trailer includes a deformed, bald man who looks suspiciously like Nicolas Cage. Beside him are what appear to be spider legs, meaning that they may be attached to his body. It’s possible that this is a tease to the cloning process that created Ben Reilly, better known as Scarlet Spider in Marvel Comics.

A disturbed scientist and college professor, Dr. Miles Warren was secretly in love with Gwen Stacy, whose death severely impacted his mental state. Becoming The Jackal, Dr. Warren created clones of Gwen and Peter. Most died, but one of the clones of Peter Parker survived and became a hero in his right.

It’s within the realm of possibility that Spider-Noir is on the cusp of giving the Scarlet Spider his first-ever live-action origin story via flashbacks for Cage’s character, albeit one that takes place in the Noir universe.

Such a move could make a lot of sense for the show, as the painful reality of living someone else’s life is just the sort of storyline that would perfectly supplement the dark undertones of a Spider-Man Noir story. If that’s the case, Spider-Noir would be in a position to become the first live-action Spider-Man project to adapt the infamous Clone Saga.