Cool News
SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK Opening Delayed Again
Nordling here.
Apparently all the critical reviews, the injured cast members, the hiring of a new creative team, and various other problems behind the scenes have ensured that SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK will move its opening date yet again, at least three months more, according to the New York Times.
The press representative of the show, Rick Miramontez, said in a statement that "Opening night remains scheduled for March 15th," but I went to the Ticketmaster website and the status of the show for that night says Canceled. So in this instance I think the New York Times has it right.
There's also a real possibility that Julie Taymor may be replaced as the director, according to the article. There may be conflicts with her, the producers, and the new creative staff behind the scenes. A lot of money has been spent on this so far and it doesn't look like it's going to end soon. Still the show is selling tickets hand over fist, if for nothing else possibly morbid curiosity, or maybe the show is striking a chord with the audience, something the critics may have not expected.
I really hope the show gets its problems worked out. I want to see a terrific adaptation of the Spider-Man story. I'm still going next week, unless the show gets canceled, and will report back on what I see. I have high hopes for it. Maybe the musical will be awful, but it'll be an experience worth having, in my opinion. I also hope Julie Taymor remains as a director. I think as a director she has an uncompromising vision and I don't care, I love Bono and the Edge too. Again, I may be overly optimistic, but that's my nature.
Nordling, out.
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
just ...wow...
-
I am first....Finally...hahahaha
-
Not sure how long this train wreck is gonna run. I love all things Spidey, so I've gotta see him swinging over my head in a Broadway theater, no matter how awful the surrounding story, acting, songs, and costumes may be...
-
It was a stupid concept from the get-go, and Julie Taymor knew nothing about the characters, yet she co-wrote the book and Directed. I've said it once and a thousand times, Taymor is the Bret Ratner of the Theatre. She sucks, she's overrated....style over substance. Good riddance! CLOSE THE SHOW, FOR CHRIST SAKES!
-
But only as artistic director. I have a good friend who went to see this. She told me it was visually amazing, but the story was confusing and the songs unmemorable. Bring in Menken and Elton John to smarten up the songbook and there might be something salvageable.
-
was not meant to be, it's time for the people who invested in this to cut their losses and move on.
-
Either by accidental injury, or suicide of an investor who lost his/her ass on it. Mark my words.
-
This thing is never going to be seen as anything more than a punchline to a bad joke. A very expensive bad joke.
-
Are going to fall on deaf ears as long as it keeps selling tickets like it has been. Imagine how sales would be if it were any good! Maybe they'll hire a replacement director who actually knows something about Spider-Man, do some major tweaking, and put out a decent product in June. It could happen!
-
A Spider-Pig musical would be more entertaining. Oh, and Peter David...I don't have to see it to know it sucks.
-
and not that good! Overhype is the word I'd use!
-
at least it will guarantee butts on those seats.
-
Does whatever a spider can! Spins a web any size! This thing won't close 'til someone DIES! He-ey-ey.... I gots tickets to SPIDER-MAAAAAN! Two! Two here for SPIDER-MAN, ALL BETS ARE OFF! Anyone for two.....?
-
You only get one shot with the latter, but Broadway shows, those things can run for a long ass time.
-
I'd be interested to know.
-
Every god damn time I see Spider-Man posted on AICN, I assume it has to do with Mark Webb's movie only for it to be about this train wreck.
-
Seriously, who thought this thing was good even from the first concept? Spider-Man: The Musical? It was a punchline then, and now it's the world's biggest joke! But they could totally turn this venture into a great farcical comedy a la The Producers. I'd say the idea of Spider-Man: The Musical is right on par with "Springtime For Hitler"
-
March 8, 2011, 9:22 p.m. CST
Too much $$$ has been invested for them to just "end it"
by Dr. Egon Spengler
I am, however, getting my wish to see this thing fail. FAIL! FAIL! FAIL! Every hack involved deserves to fail. Next time, try respecting the character and source material a little more, and you won't end up with such a clusterfuck.
-
On any ticket site, the official opening night of a Broadway show would not be sold publicly, therefore the 8pm (or whatever time) March 15th time would yes, have been canceled, then replaced with an invite-only 7pm Opening night performance.
-
So much better than the last three movies...
-
Sam Raimi to direct it? He's proven his love for melding both Spiderman and musical numbers into one effort in the past.
-
It's likely that the song audience members most likely will be humming as they leave the theatre won't be anything from the production, it'll be the 1960's cartoon theme. Up your game, guys. Try to come up with a song more iconic than that.
-
Is it post poned or not was the point of the Article that the play might be postponed because ticketmaster didn't have tickets? Cause some shoddy reporting.
-
March 8, 2011, 9:38 p.m. CST
And yet, this thing is the highest-grossing show on Broadway.
by D Ropaela
I say let it keep running as is. Let it be the most glorious catastrophe running.
-
not looking good for Bono
-
I know someone whose significant other is one of the stars-- basically the problem is that the first half is very good, while the second half is very very weak. The second half needs to be re-written. The safety issues are OK now, it's the actual script. It is going to take a significant re-tooling of half of this show which will take months to write and choreograph etc... It has excellent potential.
-
No, that won't happen, but it will take a significant effort to get it ready.
-
I want a real, detailed, spoiler-rich review of Battle: LA
-
This thing takes The Producers concept one step further! Instead of making more money as a flop, it'll make even more loot by not even opening! Duh
-
March 8, 2011, 11 p.m. CST
Cancel the live show, but film it for showing in movie theaters (like they're doing with opera) and then have a BLU-RAY release
by 3D-Man
Make some money off of this fiasco and you can reach a much wider audience too
-
March 8, 2011, 11:25 p.m. CST
You know, some formats just cannot be adapted to certain other formats...
by HarryKnowlesNonExistentInceptionReview
...superheroes-to-lavish Broadway musical being a prime example of that universal artistic law.
-
March 8, 2011, 11:29 p.m. CST
Battle: LA I think is one of those projects down the memory hole here at AICN...
by HarryKnowlesNonExistentInceptionReview
...Maybe I'm wrong, but there's been nary a mention of it in awhile. Maybe I'm wrong, whatever. I'm sort of getting a nagging "suck alert" on it lately the more trailers I've seen.
-
March 8, 2011, 11:55 p.m. CST
Or, like with a "Serbian Film," are you defending something you don't know shit about?
by Gozu
Just curious.
-
on wires
-
This idiotic mess of a show makes the production troubles on Exorcist: The Beginning look like a professional production. People aren't paying to see the show at this point - it's like NASCAR. They're going in the hopes that they'll see another accident, disaster, or just outright meltdown.
-
I'd watch it.
-
I'm just not sure at what
-
Lame as the story was, is, or will be, haters have to give them some credit for having real people doing these stunts. I'm not quite against all the CGI we're seeing in movies today (I do that kind of work) but the visceral thrill is waning (the parkour scene in Casino Royale notwithstanding). It's refreshing to know that there is a show that is going to this extreme and an audience that is appreciating it. Would I see it? I'm on the west coast but would if I could.
-
if what is going to happen is going to happen...they will be rewriting most of the songs (sorry bono, you aint no danny elfman), rewriting most of the book, restaging most of the stunts shut down for two months with a brand new production, they will get great repeat biz so who are the geniuses that bankrolled this pos
-
The life you save may be your own.
-
most broadway shows make most of their money with touring companies this show can never tour....unless they create a special cirque du soleil kind of thing so no matter what they do with it...it will ultimately be a bust
-
March 9, 2011, 2:04 a.m. CST
Doctor Doom was interviewed about the show in this week's Entertainment Weekly
by CHRISTIAN_BALE_TRASHED_MY_LIGHTS
Surprisingly, he believes that the show is "Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed".
-
Wolverine: Snikt, Bub! The story of a man bitten by a radioactive Canadian and gaining the proportional strength and agility of a lumberjack and hold down twice his body weight in whiskey.
-
Scene One: Spidey: My show's flopping. And in high school, I got bitten by a radioactive spider. Carrie: Poor you. My show flopped, and in high school I got a bucket of pig's blood dumped on me at the prom. Spidey: Oh, boo hoo. My Uncle Ben was killed by a robber. Carrie: Oh, yeah? Well, I killed my mom with flying, telekenetically propelled knives. [Music begins, as Spidey and Carrie begin to sing the show's first song, "I Can Top That."]
-
I saw it. The show BLOWS. The writer has no fucking clue what Spider-man is about. The first act is based on the first Raimi movie, which was a watered down version of the comic to begin with. Then it just gets worse and worse. A Spider goddess named Arachna is the main villian, gives Peter his costume, and powers? wha !? The music SUCKS. Not memorable at all. Kind of important when YOU MAKE A MUSICAL. And the stunts are a joke. It's a guy in a harness doing laps over the audience. The worst Cirque De Sole number is better then this.
-
would be for her to be fired. This thing is tanking her career.
-
Oh my GOD I don't care!!!
-
Fuck You Nordling...fuck you so hard. I am SO sick of people giving this play the benefit of the doubt. This is not something that is just opening, this has been out for months, gotten the worst reviews of any show ever, almost KILLED several actors...what the fuck are you expecting?? Personally I am so sick of hearing about this stupid play and reading about it. You want Julie Taymor to stay on although you clearly know nothing about the production...why? so she can finally go through with it and achieve her goal of actually murdering someone onstage in what I can only assume to be some Satanic ritual? This is just insane that you have this bizarre, naive, pre-pubescent optimism about the show. Your blindlessness to EVERY FUCKING REVIEW EVER shows a HUGE journalistic failure. This is a bizaree puff piece for the biggest disaster in theater. I'm ashamed to have read this.
-
Oh, Max, you crazy rogue, you.
-
Is Nordling serious? From the tone of his review, he has never done the following: 1) Read a Spider-Man comic 2) Seen the Spider-Man movies 3) Seen a Broadway play in his life 4) Seen, heard or read any piece of television, movie or literature ever. Is THIS journalistic integrity at its best? Why does this article exist? Is he sucking Julie's cock or something? I also think it's hysterical and sad he is not responding at all to the comments in the talkback. I seriously hope this job is a volunteer basis and he isnt paid for this. What an embarrassing display of how people try to finagle free tickets. Hope it worked! Watch out for any actors who might fall on you during the production! Jesus...
-
Having said that...Fuck this play!
-
March 9, 2011, 5:18 a.m. CST
Nordling, even if you don't see this musical, I want you to post a diary of what you do in New York
by Bobo_Vision
So that we can all discuss it. I'm dead serious. Post an article about your time in the Big City.
-
As if they won't tour it...they'll work out a way to make that money back, you can be sure of that
-
This abominable piece of shit is STILL getting page space on this site? Seriously.. WTF???
-
Wondering if I get my money back or have to sit through a buggy, potentially dangerous, preview. I don't want my obituary to say I was killed by a prop from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
-
You sir are a moron. Someone doesn't have to experience something to have a valid opinion about it, that's why we interact, and share, with others. If you got out a bit more and actually had some friends / opened your eyes / embraced the views of others, you would realise this.
-
I have been following this debacle since the beginning because I am a huge Broadway junkie and a comic book geek. The thought of putting the two together made me shudder. Not only are they cancelling 2-3 weeks of performances, the show is now opening in June. I seriously doubt that this show, if it ever does open, will last very long. Right now people are going to see it because of all the hype, not because it is good. When the New York Times calls you the worst musical in history, you need to listen. Instead, Julie Taymor's inflated ego controls everything. Management is trying to work out a deal to keep the show going, but get rid of Taymor. At this point, she is detrimental to the production. They are also trying to bring in a new director and someone to rewrite the book. I really hope the whole shoe sequence gets the ax. It's an insult to women to think that the only way we would be interested in something comic book related is if there was shopping involved. Apparently no women could possibly like something on its merit alone. As for touring, that is the ultimate goal, but the problem lies in not being able to get it set in one theater much less make it an active travelling show.
-
March 9, 2011, 8:03 a.m. CST
YES! Do not put on SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, until it is absolutely 100% ready!
by Arafel
I don't care how long it takes! I don't care how much it costs! I don't care how many actors, actresses, and audience members get hurt! We will take as much time as we need to get this show ready! We will work 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week! I don't care if it takes 3 more months, 6 more months, or even another fucking year! THIS SHOW WILL GO ON PERFECTLY! DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!
-
It's working the show and the snow is breaking box office records..how is that a "fiasco" or a "catastrophe"? Since when does it matter if it is good or not, to you, or anyone else. Spider-Man the brand, marketed this way, brings in big box office and the people behind this show are apparently smarter than you...because you are all fooled.
-
It is selling tickets like hotcakes. Not going tone shut down, I think. Still, I wonder why it has all these problems when Cirque du soleil puts on dozens of shows every day in Vegas? They should have this shit figured out by now.
-
March 9, 2011, 8:36 a.m. CST
Chuckwalla, that was REAL parkour in Casino Royale
by HarryKnowlesNonExistentInceptionReview
The guy Bond chased was played by Sébastien Foucan, one of the founders of l'art du déplacement though his philosophy later went in a different direction and grew to be called "freerunning".
-
March 9, 2011, 8:40 a.m. CST
ahole ramirez, watching Battle: LA in LA would be awesome...
by HarryKnowlesNonExistentInceptionReview
...even if Battle: LA sucks. If it succeeds though and there's sequels, like Battle: NYC or Battle: Atlanta or Battle: Moscow or even Battle: Schenectady, maybe you can see them all in their corresponding cities, too.
-
Just wondering if it's even lamer and gayer than what "500 Days of Amazing Twilighter-Man" is probably going to turn out to be.
-
wonder what household memorabilia they'll have for this
-
not giving a shit. honestly, i like stage productions, but wtf are they making so much fuss over a spiderman musical for? i like the source material and all, but i just don't get it.
-
March 9, 2011, 9:26 a.m. CST
Nordling! Bono will be at one of the shows this weekend...
by Shut_the_Fuck_Up_Bruce
What day are you going? My wife and I are going on Sunday, the 13th.
-
March 9, 2011, 10:12 a.m. CST
this is the broadway equivalent of the Bradley fighting vehicle
by spidercoz
over designed and under thought, destined to go down as the most successful failure in history
-
Someone she was talking to (or someone she was reading about) basically said that a Broadway musical about a comic book superhero would be unstageable. So she took it upon herself to wring her hands together and say, "Oh yeah, well watch me try!" Now whoever thought Bono and The Edge would be good songwriters for a Broadway show should have his or her head examined. Rock music and theater music are completely different animals ("jukebox" musicals notwithstanding). An earlier poster was right -- it will continue to do boffo box office so long as there is a perceived element of danger to the show and/or so long as the mere mention of the show is scandalous or elicits giggles. Once the show is "locked" the morbid curiosity will die off. This show is doomed.
-
No worthwhile creative talent is going to listen to the frightened responses of "end this now", they have heard that cry all their lives. Usually from mediocre wannabe lesser talents who are too scared to go out on the limb themselves. Sticking it in their pieholes is part of what fuels great talent. Secondly, no investor will kill a show that is MAKING money. All we get is squirrelly anxiety fueled responses rather than at the very least giving the show the respect that for once they are still willing to fine tune it even if they really do not have to at the moment. They can just keep ca$hing in. Seems the masses are fine with the previews, they just want to see Spider-Man live. How times do we get that attention in films or tv? TV execs cancel shows that are actually GOOD and never give them the chance.
-
March 9, 2011, 11:47 a.m. CST
New York Times just reported Julie Taymor has quit the production.
by The Reluctant Austinite
Apparently she's fed up and wants to distance herself from this trainwreck at this point. Of course, there's a fine line between quitting and getting fired. The producers/investors want this work no matter what they have to do since they stand to lose a lot of money if it finally fails. I'm also hearing that Bono and the Edge might bail too since they were so closely united with Taymor, so the all the music might be changed as well. Look for a delay of at least six months instead of three if all of this is true.
-
March 9, 2011, 12:26 p.m. CST
They are replacing the music of Bono & Edge with the Black Eyed Peas.
by Arafel
I think Fergie and Will-I-Am would be a better fit for the Spider-Man musical anyway. Since all of the music is being changed, they might as well change the entire show too and start over from the beginning. Expect a delay of at least a year, maybe two...
-
Should have just gotten Roger De Bris to direct and make Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark as gay as possible.
-
Who cares what these Broadway-types think or produce. They're a bunch of artsy-fartsy primadonnas trying to hone in on a market for which they haven't a clue. The only reason people are seeing this train wreck is for the same reason that people rubberneck at accidents - the voyeuristic need to see the dead body. This one is - rightfully so - D.O.A.
-
I would rather explain how I got shot as opposed to how I not only got talked into, but seriously injured myself doing a performance for a bunch of rich, pseudo artsy assholes who think if Bono is involved, it has to be good. People who would rather watch a terrible Broadway musical interpretation of something they could have spent 4 bucks at a newsstand or wikipedia to experience and at least be able to understand what the fuck is going on. Yet, SyFy is still peddling this fucking thing like its the greatest thing since Cats. Fuck em. Train wreck? Try coat hanger aborted 9/11.
Top Talkbacks
- MAN OF STEEL TV Spot #6 - I give up, I'm just dying to see this thing! -- 140 total posts 140 posts
- Spoilery early review of MAN OF STEEL!! -- 512 total posts 94 posts
- Capone believes that FAST & FURIOUS 6 is the best in a bizarre, crowded franchise!!! -- 132 total posts 66 posts
- Beware Epileptics - we have a new motion poster for the upcoming remake of CARRIE! -- 118 total posts 58 posts
-
HERCULES ON THE RADIO!!
Learn What Ain’t It Cool’s TV Critic Thinks About The New WOLVERINE Trailer, Soderbergh’s CANDELABBRA, FURIOUS 6, HANGOVER III, EPIC, GAME OF THRONES, MAD MEN And More!! Listen And Call In LIVE Saturday 8pm PT/11pm ET!! -- 45 total posts 45 posts - New trailer for Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara's upcoming western, AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS!! -- 75 total posts 34 posts
- Harry dives into STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS' spoilers to reveal the truth behind the blockbuster we're seeing! -- 1504 total posts 33 posts
- The INDY 500 Featurette about TURBO proves that Ferrari moves at a Snail's Pace! -- 37 total posts 30 posts
- Capone makes the case that THE HANGOVER PART III is neither a comedy nor a movie!!! -- 87 total posts 28 posts
- The Friday Docback Revisits DOCTOR WHO Season 7!! A Fuller Review Of 'The Name of the Doctor,' And More!! -- 101 total posts 26 posts