Imagine that there are many different alternate universes. Each of them is almost identical, but different in minor, almost imperceptible ways. In one universe you’re you; in another universe you’re you but you’ve got bright red hair. In another, you’re you but you’re a glamorous model who is married to John Legend and extremely good at social media. That sort of stuff.

That’s the idea behind the “Spider-Verse,” a multiverse where each separate universe has a different Spider-Man. In one, it’s the Peter Parker we know and love; in another it’s Miles Morales. In a third, Gwen Stacy might be Spider-Woman, and in a fourth, Spider-Man might be a gritty avenger like something out of a film noir.

That was the idea behind the comic Spider-Man: Noir, which premiered (as part of a whole line of noir-tinged Marvel comics) in 2009. The Noir Spidey has popped up in a few other series and cartoons, and he was a playable character in the underrated Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions video game. Now he is set to join the film world in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this winter’s animated Spidey from Sony and The LEGO Movie’s Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Best of all, per Collider, he will be played by Nicolas Cage. Yes! I just spiked my rare dinosaur bones on the floor out of sheer excitement.

It’s a busy time for Nicolas Cage in animated comic-book movies. This summer he’ll appear as Superman in Teen Titans Go! to the Movies. And of course he previously played Ghost Rider in two films for Fox: Ghost Rider and the superior Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, where Johnny Blaze actually urinates fire on his enemies. (Cinema!) I don’t expect Spider-Man: Noir will pull a similar move in this film.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opens in theaters on December 14.

Gallery - The Best Spider-Man Movie Posters Ever:

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