Lamorne Morris sat down with CBS Saturday Morning to reflect on his career as he takes on a new role in the Marvel universe: Robbie Robertson in the noir‑tinged series Spider‑Noir, which pairs Morris with Nicolas Cage as Ben Riley, a private investigator and the city’s lone Spider‑Man.
Best known for turning Winston Bishop into an enduring comedic presence on New Girl and for an Emmy‑winning turn on Fargo, Morris described the Spider‑Noir project as a chance to stretch into a darker, more cinematic world. The series reimagines 1930s New York as a moody, crime‑filled landscape; Morris plays a tenacious reporter who navigates segregation’s limits and the danger of seeking the truth in a hostile era.
“Robbie Robertson is an aggressive journalist who’ll do anything to get a scoop,” Morris told host Nate Burleson, explaining how the role appealed to him. He emphasized the stakes for a Black newspaperman in that period — having to sneak in the back door to gain access and risking much to reveal what’s hidden — and said he dug into historical figures like Ted Poston, one of the first Black journalists to earn broad respect, to inform his performance.
Morris said he prepared by immersing himself in the cadence and tone of period noirs, citing films such as Devil in a Blue Dress and studying master actors who shaped the tradition. He also singled out the show’s attention to style and costume: Trayce Gigi Field’s vintage noir looks became part of the character work, helping sell a journalist who looks sharp even if his home life reveals the grind.
On set, Morris said working with Nicolas Cage was an education. “It’s like a lesson — not just an acting lesson, a history lesson,” he said, noting Cage’s encyclopedic curiosity and energetic approach. Morris praised Cage’s range and ability to bring depth to unusual choices, describing the experience as inspiring.
The interview traced Morris’s path to Hollywood from the South Side of Chicago. Raised in a household where comedy was a family trait — he shared a laugh about an uncle’s prank “fart cologne” — Morris honed his craft at Chicago’s legendary Second City, a training ground for improvisers and satirists. He recalled hoping to be an athlete as a kid, then finding a new calling that led to television and awards recognition.
He also revisited the long audition process for New Girl, where he said he went through 15 auditions before landing Winston. That role, he believes, allowed him to embrace his full sense of humor and opened doors to more dramatic work, culminating in his Emmy‑winning performance on Fargo and now this noir turn.
Morris talked about the practicalities of playing a 1930s reporter — researching diction, listening to period performances and watching key noir films to capture cadence and stance. He wanted to honor the era’s master actors and the real reporters who broke barriers, while also bringing contemporary nuance to the character.
Lighthearted moments punctuated the interview: Morris admitted the perils of “the struggle meal” (a ketchup sandwich) and quipped about fashion, as Nate Burleson admired the show’s mustard suits and overcoats. For Morris, those costumes were part of the storytelling — a way to show a character who presents well in public while quietly grinding to make ends meet.
Asked what he would tell his younger self, Morris offered a succinct credo: trust the process. “Be good at what you’re good at, and it will always work,” he said. “No one can do you like you.”
Spider‑Noir — a noir reimagining with Nicolas Cage at its center and Morris as an essential ally — debuts Wednesday, May 27 on Prime Video.