Spider-Man’s been saved!
That's the word from an inside source on the troubled Broadway musical which features music from Bono and The Edge.
“Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark” was originally set to preview at the Hilton Theater on February 25, 2010 and open in March, but production was stalled for nearly a month by financial difficulties.
The show’s budget is reported to have soared to $52 million, in part because of theater renovations, and will cost about $1 million per week to produce, which is hundreds of thousands of dollars more than other elaborate Broadway shows such as “West Side Story.”
However, our sources tell us that producers have met with Tony winning director Julie Taymor and other members of the creative team, and a deal has been reached to cover the estimated $24 million in budget overrun.
“Spider-Man’s” opening date is expected to put pushed back to spring 2010.
Bono’s name has been closely linked with the project. He even came up with the title, which was inspired by a story Bono heard of a child who would ask his father to "Turn off the dark" instead of "Turn on the light."
The Irish rocker, along with U2 guitarist The Edge, penned the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical, which was unveiled last year with grandiose ambitions.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood has been cast as Mary Jane, while Alan Cumming is slated to play Green Goblin.
According to press notes, “Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark” “spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen.
"The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down — literally — when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek — suddenly endowed with astonishing powers — soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character.
"Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected — yielding new characters as well as familiar faces — until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey."
Comments