For years, streaming has been holding out on us. One of the best perks of physical media isn’t a limited-edition slip cover or box set; it’s the options. Director’s cuts, alternate editions, versions that changed the mood of the film, or revealed the filmmaker’s real intent, not squashed by the studio. The problem is that all those extras have traditionally lived in plastic—bonus discs, collector sets, and under layers of menus.
That’s why Prime Video’s upcoming live-action Marvel series, Spider-Noir, feels like a small but meaningful shift. The bold new show is being offered with two ways to watch—”Authentic Black & White” and a color version that the studio is calling “True-Hue Full Color.” No chasing down Blu-rays or one-off theatrical events; Prime Video is offering the choice at launch on May 27. Fine, it may be a marketing hook. But it’s also a neat creative decision that makes total sense for the Spider-Verse that Spider-Noir comes from, and it’s excellent to see streaming embracing it.
What is “True-Hue,” exactly?
If you’re familiar with the 1930s hard-boiled private investigator/super hero Spider-Noir character and aesthetic from the Spider-Verse animated films (voiced by Nicolas Cage, who now plays him, live), it makes sense that the series would follow the same black and white monochromatic aesthetic (more on this later). It’s this version that is considered the primary “intended” experience of the series. So that leaves the question—what is True-Hue Full Color? While it doesn’t appear to be an established format or new technology—it’s not Dolby Vision, HDR10+, or some secret Prime Video codec—what we do know from interviews and reports is that it’s a distinct, intentionally designed (and branded) color master.
The folks behind the show have described the color version as stylized, not normal color, but something closer to vintage. “It looks like a black and white film that’s been kind of colorized,” one of the show’s co-producers, Oren Uziel, told Esquire. “That was one of the inspirations for how to do it.” And just one look at the True-Hue trailer (above) and you can see how its subtle, oversaturated tone creates a different feel when compared to the black and white version. It’s this contrast and choice that the filmmakers and the studios are hoping will appeal to different audiences.
“The color is super saturated and gorgeous,” Cage also told Esquire. “I think teenage viewers will appreciate the color, but I also want them to have the option. If they want to experience the concept in black and white, maybe that would instill some interest in them to look at earlier movies and enjoy that as an art form as well.”
Why the dual release is so great
Creatively, Spider-Noir is a prime candidate for a dual release. Yes, it is definitely a branding and marketing gimmick (they even created logos and fonts for each), but each version’s coloring (or lack of) can totally set its emotional temperature and vibe. The stylized color version pushes the pulp/comic book vibe that’s more playful and maintains the serial energy of, say, Dick Tracy. The black and white version, on the other hand, follows a darker, more sinister path with deeper shadows, harsher silhouettes, accentuated by Cage’s gruff voicing.
More deliciously, for Prime Video, though, is how well the marketing will serve them. Dual versions instantly create a conversation around “Which version should I watch?” and evoke debate—”Which one is better?” It also makes the series stand out from pretty much everything else streaming at the moment.
Credit: Prime Video
For the viewers, too, it’s a marketing tool that’s actually beneficial. In a world of streamers promising premium experiences and failing to deliver as they continuously raise their prices, this is a tangible bonus that’s fun, immediate, and addresses the fact that viewers want options.
Offering dual versions on streaming is something more streamers should be doing, and it’s totally doable. It turns the whole ethos of the “alternate cut” into a normal choice. Spider-Noir isn’t just a neat gimmick; it’s demonstrating a model streaming should use more often.
Spider-Noir isn’t the first, but streaming makes it feel new
Credit: Prime Video
Spider-Noir is actually part of a modern tradition of studios and creators offering alternate versions of their films and, in rare cases, TV shows to emphasize, perhaps, a different tone or feel, or just a version that a director or filmmaker wasn’t allowed to release as the main version (looking at you, Zack Snyder). The difference is that those versions have often been more difficult to find than they should be.
With that being said, while we wait for Spider-Noir‘s May 27 Prime Video release (May 25 on MGM+), here are a few standout examples of some great dual versions worth checking out and where to find them.
Mad Max: Fury Road—Black and Chrome
George Miller’s high-octane wasteland adventure epic, Mad Max: Fury Road, was also offered in a stunning high-contrast black-and-white edition that pushed the film’s silhouettes and chaos to some interesting new limits. You won’t find it on any streaming platforms, though, so you’d best get your hands on the Blu-Ray release.
Logan–Logan Noir
Widely considered the greatest film about the Wolverine ever made, James Mangold’s Logan also got the monochrome “Noir” treatment that really upped the film’s gritty Western-noir mood. It’s also a bit hard to come by, having only been released on the 2017 Blu-ray release, which you can still find on Amazon.
Logan
Release Date
March 3, 2017
Runtime
137 Minutes
Director
James Mangold
Godzilla Minus One—Minus Color
Just when you thought that 2023’s Godzilla Minus One couldn’t get any more stylized, Toho and Legendary Pictures actually recreated the film shot-for-shot in monochrome as a tribute to the original 1954 Godzilla, which was released in conjunction with its 70th anniversary in 2024. The Minus Color version brings a distinct documentary-like feel to the movie, making everything feel like historical footage. Luckily, Netflix is hip to the dual-version game already and is currently offering both to stream.
Godzilla Minus One
Release Date
November 3, 2023
Runtime
124 minutes
Director
Takashi Yamazaki
The takeaway? Sure, Prime Video is using True-Hue and Black & White as a marketing gimmick, but I’m OK with that. The point is that the streaming giant is actually offering its subscribers an alternate presentation to stream that feels like a premium add-on, and not something they need to hunt for in rare Blu-ray releases—they should be doing this more often.
If Spider-Noir sticks the landing and is the success that I hope it’s going to be (Cage looks amazing, and I’ve been anticipating him taking the Spider-Verse role live-action!), then it’s not hard to imagine Prime Video, or even other streamers, offering all kinds of cool and unique options. For once, streaming is borrowing from physical media in the best possible way, and it’s about time.
