Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Julie Taymor Out as <em>Spider-Man</em> Delays Opening, Again
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 10, 2011
Modified Mar 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 10, 2011
Modified Mar 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The rollicking ride that is Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark's backstage drama just doesn't stop. As expected the producers of the most expensive show in Broadway history sent out a press release last night confirming not only that the March 15 opening won't be happening (instead the show, which has already had more than 100 previews, will open on "an evening in early summer, 2011.") and that the show will be taking a few weeks off in the Spring but also that director/co-writer/mask designer Julie Taymor has essentially been kicked out of the Foxwoods Theater.
Philip William McKinley and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will be stepping in to help with the directing and writing duties. McKinley previously directed The Boy From Oz and Aguirre-Sacasa last worked on a Dallas revival of the Superman musical It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman.
The producers of the show swear that Taymor isn't leaving though. They swear! It's just that "the additional time commitment required by this new plan will make it impossible for director and co-book writer Julie Taymor to continue on in her day-to-day duties with the production." But seriously, “Julie Taymor is not leaving the creative team. Her vision has been at the heart of this production since its inception and will continue to be so."
Uh, sure.
So why is Taymor getting the boot now? The Times speculates that a lot of the issues have come from the critical lambasting the show received and Taymor's unwillingness to make the changes that producers, and most importantly (apparently) Bono, wanted made. Especially in the bizarre second act (spoiler alert: it is all a dream!). Apparently she also refused to meet with some advisors the producers lined up.
The Daily News on the other hand hears that the problems with Taymor really became an issue when she "doomed herself by trying to unravel the musical web that Irish rocker Bono weaved for the show." Basically Bono stopped backing Taymor when she brought the Starlight Express guy on to help fix the music. Or, in other words, "If Bono had wanted Taymor to stay, she'd still be here."
According to producers Bono and the Edge will be adding a few new songs to go with the new book and the new director.
Anyway, we still think that, after they reportedly approached Aaron Sorkin, the producers should have tried to get Tony Kushner to give the book a shot—now there is a man comfortable with changing shows on the fly. And in case you were wondering, the Spider-spoofs are still set to run next week.
Tagged
bono
it's a bird... it's a plane... it's superman!
julie taymor
spider-man the musical
spider man turn off the dark
the edge
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .