SPIDER-MAN Producers Release Statement on Julie Taymor's Lawsuit

As was reported earlier today, SPIDER-MAN's former director, Julie Taymor, has filed suit against the show. Taymor claims that her creative rights were violated and that she has yet to be compensated for the work that she put into the production before she was let go in March 2011.

The producers of SPIDER-MAN have released a statement in response to the allegations, which reads:

"Since Ms. Taymor's departure in March, we have repeatedly tried to resolve these issues. The production has indeed compensated Ms. Taymor for her contribution as a co-book writer.

Fortunately the court system will provide, once and for all, an opportunity to resolve this dispute. We look forward to a resolution in which everyone is properly compensated for their contribution to SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark."

Taymor seeks approximately $1 million in addition to royalties, according to The New York Times. She has reportedly received royalties paid up to April 17th, when the show took a hiatus and began to rework the material under the direction of Philip William McKinley; SPIDER-MAN reopened for previews on May 12th, officially opened June 14, and is still playing at the Foxwoods Theatre.

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark features direction by McKinley (The Boy From Oz), original direction by Tony Award-winner Taymor (The Lion King, Across The Universe, Frida), music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge, and book co-written by Taymor, Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel) and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics, "Big Love").

Photo: Julie Taymor on SPIDER-MAN's opening night. (Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos)