To say Spider-Noir is unlike any Spider-Man project audiences have seen before would be an understatement. This version of the friendly neighborhood hero isn't so friendly, as he's not afraid to take lives. Furthermore, the show has been rated TV-14, which is a first for any Spider-Man series ever created. But perhaps the biggest difference this time around is that audiences won't follow Peter Parker's journey, as Ben Reilly will take the spotlight instead.
In the comic book world, an alternate version of Peter Parker is behind the Spider-Man Noir mantle. So why was the character changed for the live-action adaptation? Could it have been due to licensing issues? Or did Sony not want general audiences to associate a weary investigator who isn't afraid to kill or get drunk with Peter Parker? Perhaps the biggest question to ask is: Did Peter Parker make a small cameo appearance in the series, nonetheless? Well, the answer is just as complex as the main mystery of Spider-Noir.
But before we begin: Be warned, there will be mild spoilers for Spider-Noir ahead. If you don't want any surprises ruined for you, it's best to turn back now.
Ben Reilly could really be Peter Parker in Spider-Noir
The man behind the mask may really be hiding behind another mask. Throughout the events of Spider-Noir, we're led to believe that "Ben Reilly" is the main character, but what if that was just a fake name used by Peter Parker himself? Well, there are two key hints to suggest that's the case.
See, Doctor Faber and her son, Ogden, have been looking for The Spider for years. As it turns out, the wall-crawler isn't the only person with special abilities, as many POWs (including Ogden) were experimented on by the Germans during World War I, resulting in the creation of many superhumans. However, Ben is the one who isn't dying due to his new abilities. The hero's stabilized genetic mutations could allow Doctor Faber to create a cure for her son, Ogden, who is aging at an extremely fast pace.
Ogden eventually learns The Spider's real identity and kidnaps Ben Reilly during the events of Episode 6. Once our hero is finally trapped in Doctor Faber's private lab, Ogden mentions that they would've found Ben earlier if he hadn't changed his name. That means "Ben Reilly" is a fabricated name that the wall-crawler started using after the war so that no one would know about his past. That begs the question: What is the main character's real name?
During the events of Episode 2, Ben disguises himself as a plumber and goes to his old apartment to recover his superhero suit. When he meets the new tenants living there, he introduces himself as "Pete", which could be short for Peter Parker. So, there's a chance that he was using his real name in this specific instance, especially since we know "Ben Reilly" is a made-up name.
Interestingly enough, we never learn about Ben's past beyond World War I. Audiences never get to learn about his childhood or who his parents were. That means Sony definitely has the chance to expand upon the character's backstory during a second season and unveil that his real birth name is Peter Parker.
Spider-Noir co-showrunner Oren Uziel revealed during an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Peter Parker isn't in the show just yet, but hinted he might appear further down the line:
"Not yet. Not in season 1, I don't think."
Unfortunately, the first season of Spider-Noir didn't elaborate further on this big mystery, so we don't have a concrete answer about Ben's real identity just yet. That's why Peter technically hasn't made his appearance "yet" in Season 1. However, if Season 2 dives deeper into this storyline, there's a chance that we'll finally know what Ben's real name is, and it wouldn't be surprising to learn that he really is Peter Parker.
It's very fitting for a noir mystery series to have an unsolved mystery by the end of its first season. However, all clues seem to suggest we saw Peter Parker in action from the very beginning, and that's a very nice twist that's sure to please Spider-Man fans.
Spider-Noir will release on May 27 on Prime Video.
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