SPIDER-MAN Musical 'Swings' Closer to Broadway Debut

The UK TimesOnline site is reporting that SPIDERMAN may be ready to battle his most powerful foe of all - the Broadway slump. The news service reports the the musical based on the Marvel comic book hero, written by Bono and the Edge from U2, will indeed take residency in the Hilton Theatre early next year as the "chilly wind of a US recession" blows through the theatre district of New York City.

The article gives many new details regarding the production including comments from well regarded press maestro Adrian Bryan-Brown and Hilton Theatre manager Micah Hollingsworth. To read the very revealing Times article click here.

Last week film site IESB.net reported that Evan Rachel Wood has been cast as "Mary Jane" in the upcoming SPIDERMAN musical, it states that rehearsals will begin in June 2009. The website also reveals that her 'Across The Universe' co-star Jim Sturgess, long rumored to play Peter Parker/Spiderman is still a possibility, but has to be "convinced".

Marvel Comic executive Peter Cuneo recently confirmed that the musical version of the popular comic and film Spider-Man is "definitely a go". IESB.net reports that Marvel's Peter Cuneo says they are, "very pleased with our Broadway show. 

According to recent reports Julie Taymor is confirmed to direct and Bono and The Edge are writing the lyrics and score. Rumor has it that the musical could open as early as early 2009. Cuneo went on to state that the creative direction and execution of the show is already in progress and very solid, they are only waiting on a theater to seal the deal.

"Spider-Man (Peter Benjamin Parker) is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero, created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The character first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug. 1962), and has since gone on to become one of the most popular, enduring and commercially successful superheroes worldwide, and is arguably Marvel's most famous character. When Spider-Man first appeared in the early 1960s, teenagers in superhero comic books were usually relegated to the role of sidekick to the series' main character. The Spider-Man series broke ground by featuring Peter Parker, a teenage high school student to whose "self-obsessions with rejection, inadequacy, and loneliness" young readers could relate. Spider-Man has since appeared in various media, including several animated and live-action television series, syndicated newspaper comic strips and a successful series of films starring actor Tobey Maguire as the character.

Marvel has featured Spider-Man in several comic book series, the first titled The Amazing Spider-Man. Over the years, the Peter Parker character has developed from shy high school student to troubled college student to a married teacher and a member of the superhero team the New Avengers," state press notes.

Taymor, who won a Tony Award for directing the Broadway musical The Lion King and who is also known for equally visually imaginative films such as Titus and Frida, helmed the recent Metropolitan Opera production of The Magic Flute, as well as productions such as Juan Darien, The Tempest, and Oedipus Rex.

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