Brutal reviews for her “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” two citations for Labor Department violations and even a “Saturday Night Live” commercial mocking the musical’s on-set injuries. Incredibly, the box office is still good.
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesThe producers of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark are talking to director Julie Taymor about making big changes to the troubled production that could include her departure, the New York Times reported, citing sources.
The producers are talking to Taymor along with the U2’s Bono and the Edge — who composed the music — about making changes to the script and music, hiring outside consultants and possibly once again pushing back opening night, which is currently scheduled for March 15.
The Times reported that producers have basically offered an ultimatum to Taymor: Accept help in making major changes to the musical or “face a different outcome, potentially her exit from the show.”
The Times‘ sources said it was unclear whether Taymor would exit the production but added that Bono has been taking an active role in the discussions.
When reached for comment by the Times, production spokesman Ken Sunshine said: “We are not commenting on speculation.”
As it stands now, with five opening-night delays, the show set a record Sunday with for the most preview performances. Spider-Man, with more than 98 previews now, beat the previous record set in 1969 by Jackie Mason’s A Teaspoon Every Four Hours.
The Times notes that the March 15 opening now seems unlikely since critics have not yet been invited to review it.
However, critics from many major organizations, including The Hollywood Reporter, ran their reviews Feb. 7, the previously scheduled opening night. Most of them weren’t kind; THR’s David Rooney called it “chaotic, dull and a little silly.”
After the reviews ran online, Spider-Man producers went on the defensive, slamming critics for running reviews ahead of the official March 15 opening.
