Spider-Man's Fate May Be Decided Today

Rumors are flying this morning about the troubled musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The New York Times reported yesterday that director Julie Taymor, other members of the creative team, and the show's producers are scheduled to have an important meeting today to discuss the show's future. Today, the New York Post's Michael Riedel - a reporter who covers the Broadway beat and passes around the juiciest gossip on the Great White Way - has said that Spider-Man won't be postponed indefinitely as many have suggested over the last several months. Instead, it will just push back opening until the summer of 2010, when Taymor and company will finally have the highly complex show ready. This would mean that Spider-Man won't make the deadline for this year's Tony Awards, but then again most people probably won't need a Tony win as an incentive to see this much-buzzed-about musical with amazing aerial effects and songs by U2's Bono and The Edge.

More Happenings in Spider-ville

At the risk of becoming the All Spiderman News Network, we feel we must report on a couple of the latest developments of the ongoing saga of the Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark musical that is supposed to be coming to Broadway in February 2010. The latest news came on Monday when it was announced that Disney is buying out Marvel Entertainment - a very intriguing development considering that Marvel owns the Spider-man brand, and Disney is no stranger to success on Broadway (furthermore, Disney has a pre-existing relationship with Spiderman director Julie Taymor, who also helmed The Lion King on Broadway). The announcement immediately started tongues wagging that perhaps Disney will be able to solve Spiderman's financial woes, which necessitated work stoppage on the production earlier last month. Then today the New York Times reported that work is set to resume at Spidey's home, the Hilton Theatre, tomorrow. The Times cautioned that it is only "modest" construction that is resuming, and not to be taken as a sign that Spiderman is out of trouble yet. Reportedly the show's performers were already told in August that the production may be canceled, so Spiderman the musical's fate is still in the air.

Troubles in Spider-Land as Production on U2 Musical Halts

Rumors about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have been flying around New York City faster than the web-slinging hero himself. As production costs of the big-budget and technically complex Julie Taymor-directed musical, featuring a score by U2's Bono and The Edge, have skyrocketed, word on the street has been that the show may never open. The latest development is that production has halted, albeit temporarily, according to the musical's producers, due to cash flow troubles. They insist that Spiderman will still begin performances at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway in late February as planned. So far no one has been cast in the plum role of Peter Parker, but Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming are already set to co-star.

Broadway Director's Movie Opens Today

The latest film from Julie Taymor, the Tony-winning director of The Lion King on Broadway, opens in limited release today (wide release is on September 21) -- and it's a musical! Across the Universe is a love story set in the 1960s that uses songs by The Beatles to tell its tale. Taymor's wildly artistic -- and often abstract -- style is likely to make for an interesting and divisive movie.