Of all the multiversal versions of the Webslinger who populated the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, none provided the necessary humor like the Wallcrawler of Earth-90214: Spider-Man Noir. As voiced by Nicolas Cage, that particular Spider-Man gained his powers from a spider idol during the Great Depression. He battled mobsters more than he did costumed villains, but the retro approach to his origin story isn't what made him such a hit.
With Cage's approach, the anachronistic phrases and the hardboiled detective bit made him the polar opposite of Miles Morales' Spider-Man, on the surface anyway. Underneath both suits, however, were the hearts of heroes, and the combination of authenticity and effective comedy skills is critical for any actor who might bring Spider-Man Noir to live-action glory in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Nicolas Cage
As Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the star of many stellar movies, Nicolas Cage, found the heart of the character: anachronistic yet savvy, beholden to a code of justice and righteousness that hit differently than the Spider-people of other universes. Given Cage's turn as a myriad of big-screen characters, putting him in the live-action driver's seat of Spider-Man Noir's live-action MCU debut would be a thrill ride for fans.
His age means viewers would most likely get an older version of the character. His ability to marry optimism with the world-weariness of a man who's spent a lot of time in the trenches would add layers of complexity to the role. If anyone could pull off a veteran Spider-Man Noir in an across-the-multiverse Spider-adventure, it's the guy who voiced him on the big screen once before.
Milo Ventimiglia
If previous Spider-Man Noir actors are given consideration, then Milo Ventimiglia of This Is Us deserves a mention as well. Ventimiglia — who first played an on-screen superpowered individual in the NBC series Heroes — voiced the character in season 3 of Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors in a storyline that borrowed elements of the Into the Spider-Verse saga.
As a voice actor, he succinctly captured the hero's gravitas and bleak demeanor, and while he's older than Spider-Man Noir at the outset of his costumed adventures, Ventimiglia behind the mask and goggles, hunting Nazis amid the chaotic landscape of the 1930s, would be a welcome addition to the MCU.
Rami Malek
As the central star of Mr. Robot, Malek proved he has what it takes to play a young man with many skills who often finds himself in over his head. On film, whether he's playing the mercurial Freddie Mercury or the scarred-but-scary Safin opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond, he proved he has the chops to bring in box office dollars as well.
Given the understated nature of Spider-Man Noir that's a far different personality type than his more flamboyant counterparts, any actor who takes on the role needs to do a lot with a little, and Malek's quiet resolve would work well in such a scenario. He's expressed an interest in joining the MCU in the past, so whether he would be satisfied with a relatively obscure role remains to be seen, but he's undoubtedly qualified to bring it to life.
Elijah Wood
Although he turned 40 last year, the youthful good looks of the actor everyone knows as Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings franchise would enable him to play Spider-Man Noir at any age. One downside: Wood communicates a great deal with his eyes, a trait that would be hampered by the character's aviator goggles.
Still, Wood has shown a penchant for embracing obscure roles with plenty of outside-the-box potential, such as the 2019 horror-comedy Come to Daddy. Seeing him cinch up the trench coat and match wits and brawn with the Depression-era underworld would be a sweet payoff for fans of both Wood and Spider-Man Noir.
Hayden Christensen
Christensen is already back in the Disney+ saddle for a role as Darth Vader in the forthcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on the streaming network, which might make him receptive to an offer for a role in the studio's other tentpole franchise. Like any other actor who might be cast as Spider-Man Noir, Christensen would spend a lot of time wearing the character's mask, which might be a good thing for reluctant casting agents who feel he's too closely associated with his turn as Anakin Skywalker.
If there's one trait at which Christensen excels, however, it's brooding — and given the steampunk treatment of Spider-Man Noir, the characters call for a lot of that. Combined with his obvious willingness to be a part of potential blockbusters, Christensen may be an outside-the-box choice to bring the character to the MCU.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
With parts in The Dark Knight Rises and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Gordon-Levitt has shown he's not averse to playing characters based on those from comic books, and with plenty of experience as a character actor, he might very well fit the bill. He's also mastered an ability to veer from both a kind softness and a determined steeliness that would be necessary to effectively capture Spider-Man Noir's emotional range.
Like other contenders, Gordon-Levitt's age (he turned 40 in 2021) may be a hindrance to filmmakers who want to create a Spider-Man Noir origin story. If the script calls for an older and more battle-hardened version similar to that of Into the Spider-Verse, then he could fill those shoes admirably.
Daniel Radcliffe
For millions of movie-goers, Daniel Radcliffe is and will forever be Harry Potter. As such, casting him in any MCU role would be a challenge for viewers to dissociate it from his previous iconic role.
An appearance in a forthcoming multiversal film might be an ideal entry point for Radcliffe to join the MCU, however. As part of a larger ensemble, he wouldn't be required to carry the film, and the ability to relax and have fun with it would be a treat for Marvel fans ready to see some bigger names join the fold.
Nicholas Hoult
There's Marvel precedent for Nicholas Hoult's inclusion in the MCU, given his turn as Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men: First Class series of films. On top of that, Hoult's acting as clueless Russian emperor Peter III in Hulu's The Great is wickedly funny in a way that could bring some of the more anachronistic humor of the Spider-Man Noir character to the forefront of any MCU film of which he's a part.
At the same time, Hoult has tackled meatier fare that displays a surprising amount of gravitas that's necessary to ground such a role. Of all the candidates on the shortlist of those who might be cast as Spider-Man Noir in the MCU, Hoult's range surely puts him near the top of the list.
Timothée Chalamet
In a way, Timothée Chalamet has already nailed a script with an origin story similar to that of Peter Parker's. In last year's Dune, he starred as Paul Atreides, first introduced in the book of the same name. Like Parker, he loses a cherished relative to violence, finds himself attempting to fit into a new world he doesn't understand, and imbued with powers he's struggling, by film's end, to make sense of and use for the greater good.
Chalamet's range is impressive, and as Spider-Man Noir, he could capably carry a film centered around both the beginnings and experiences of Earth-90214. From the heaviness of a young man coming to terms with how best to use his newfound powers to a Nazi fighter who operates out of the shadows, Chalamet would be an excellent addition to the MCU in any potential Spider-Man crossover story.
Finn Wolfhard
When rumors of Thor: Love and Thunder were being bandied about a couple of years ago, word at one time was that Wolfhard had been tapped to play Kid Loki. That was quickly shot down, but it did get Marvel fans salivating over the possibility of the Stranger Things star becoming a part of the MCU.
As he's slowly made the leap to the big screen with roles in It (and It Chapter Two) as well as Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Wolfhard has demonstrated that while he can certainly act, his abilities are elevated when he's part of an ensemble.