Spider-Man show hits delay ahead of opening night

SPIDER-MAN, already Broadway’s costliest ever show, is set for a major delay and possibly change of director after months of troubles, reports said, just days ahead of next week’s opening night.

However, Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, said: “Opening night remains scheduled for Tuesday.” At the very least the $65 million (€46.7m) production faced yet another PR nightmare as rumours swirled around of a major glitch.

The New York Times reported a two-to-three weeks delay is about to be announced, giving time for new rehearsals and deep changes to the production. The New York Post and Daily News reported director Julie Taymor would be replaced.

Broadwayworld.com, which covers the industry news, quoted more unnamed sources saying negotiations behind the scenes are “making progress” ahead of an announcement about the show’s future.

Critics have mostly panned previews of the musical which features music by U2’s Bono and The Edge and circus-like aerial stunts telling the story of the 1960s comic book hero.

* Meanwhile, a US comic collector paid $1.1 million for a near-mint copy of Amazing Fantasy number 15 that features the wall-crawler’s debut.

ComicConnect.com chief executive Stephen Fishler said the Silver Age issue, first published in 1962, was sold by a private seller to a private buyer.

The highest price ever paid for a comic book goes to Action Comics number one with Superman on the cover, which went for $1.5m.