Spider-Man: New Actor Takes Over as Sandman
Spider-Man will be one of Marvel’s biggest highlights across very different forms of media in 2026. Check out the villain’s actor change.
Nicolas Cage returns as the dark Spider-Man, but the lineup of villains holds a surprise. The role of Flint Marko, made iconic by Thomas Haden Church in Sam Raimi’s films, now belongs to another actor.
The live-action Spider-Noir series, set for Amazon Prime Video, is building its roster with choices that go beyond the obvious. The latest casting confirms Jack Huston as the new Sandman, bringing the classic villain into a setting completely unlike anything we’ve seen on screen before.
Spider-Noir Takes Shape with Nicolas Cage
Cage previously voiced the character in the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This time, he steps into the role in live action. The decision to keep the same performer pleased much of the fanbase, who already saw him as the natural choice for a live-action version.
The series is set in the 1930s, which radically transforms the backdrop. No modern-day New York. The atmosphere is dark, filled with references to classic American noir, creating room to reimagine familiar villains from an entirely different perspective.
Sandman Without Thomas Haden Church
Church brought Flint Marko to life twice. The first time was in Spider-Man 3, in 2007. The second came more than a decade later in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Both appearances left a lasting impression of the character in fans’ minds.
But the recasting makes sense. The series has no connection to the universe of Tom Holland’s films. It’s an alternate reality set decades earlier, with its own internal logic and its own faces. Reusing the same actor here would create more narrative confusion than emotional continuity.
Jack Huston, known for roles in “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Alienist,” takes on the character with a different approach. The 1930s villain will not be the same Sandman from previous films, and the production seems aware that it needs to deliver something distinctly its own.
In addition to Sandman, another confirmed villain is Silvermane, reinforcing the idea that the series intends to explore less-traveled corners of Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery.
What This Means for the Character’s Future
It’s still unclear whether Sony and Marvel Studios plan to bring Sandman back in upcoming films with Tom Holland, especially with Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the way.
The existence of two simultaneous versions of the villain in different productions may spark debate among fans, but it also shows that Marvel is willing to treat each project as its own independent universe.
With its expanding cast and unconventional setting, the Spider-Noir series is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s most intriguing bets for 2026. The remaining question is whether the final result will live up to the growing expectations.
