U2 Writing Spider-Man Musical

February 25, 2009

U2 Writing Spider-Man Musical • Bono and the Edge are composing music and lyrics for Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, opening on Broadway 2/18/10. This is a smart fall-back for U2 plan since the whole writing rock songs thing isn't working out. According to Hollywood Reporter (via P4K) Evan Rachel Wood will play Mary Jane. We'll reserve judgment as long as Joel Schumacher stays far away.

Posted at 1:50 PM
Tags: Bono | Evan Rachel Wood | Spider-Man | The Edge | U2

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16 Comments

octomom in porn, now this.

Posted by: zap at 02/25/09 2:06 PM | Reply
Score = 0

I finally found a reason why things are going wrong in the U2 camp: they think they are competing with Coldplay, Kings of Leon and The Killers...

These bands are trying to copy what you've done. They are not your competition, you should be teaching them how things are done. Right?

Check it out:
http://www.spinner.com/2009/02/24/u2-fear-killers-coldplay-and-kings-of-leon/

Bottom line is U2 only listens to Top 40 radio. :/

Posted by: d33r

at 02/25/09 2:47 PM | Reply
Score = 0

And exactly how is this songwriting thing not working out? They just got 5 stars in rolling stone for their new album! Just cause us indie douche bags don't like them, doesn't mean they are songs aren't working out.

Posted by: Black Jesus at 02/25/09 2:53 PM | Reply
Score = 2

yeah, by david fricke

Posted by: Dan in reply to Black Jesus's comment at 02/25/09 3:02 PM | Reply
Score = 2

when was the last time a rolling stone 5 star review meant anything at all?

Posted by: pot in reply to Black Jesus's comment at 02/25/09 3:07 PM | Reply
Score = 6

Apparently sarcasm is lost on Black Jesus. (Also, how could this not fail? The subject: ridiculous. The writing team: so far it's some old rock stars - notice how no one has mentioned who's writing the book. And last, but not least, the budget: currently over $45M. A figure that dwarfs most stage shows (average - $9M - $13M) on the street.)

Posted by: Proper Villain at 02/25/09 3:05 PM | Reply
Score = -1

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHCK!!!

Posted by: Oceania

at 02/25/09 3:08 PM | Reply
Score = 1

since when is this new news? they already have about $60 million behind this production (wicked had about $14) and they've been working on soundstages in LA getting the webbing right since last summer. when they were workshopping it they were using jim sturgess (wood's co-star in "across the universe," which taymor also directed) as peter parker.

Posted by: kyle at 02/25/09 3:13 PM | Reply
Score = -1

Sorry to keep steering it OT, but only one U2 album ever deserved 5 stars and we all know which one from 1987 it was. Achtung Baby, 4.5 stars. Giving the new one 5 is ridiculous.

Posted by: yet another at 02/25/09 3:24 PM | Reply
Score = -1

Billboard said yesterday that the show now has an opening date (1/16/10 for previews, 2/18/10 for Broadway); maybe that's the part that made this news? I'm really interested because Julie Taymor is directing. BTW, the same Billboard article quoted the budget at more like $30 mil. Is that flimflam, Kyle?

Posted by: plumnbagel at 02/25/09 3:26 PM | Reply
Score = 0

a buddy of mine was supposed to help direct the show. last summer he told me the budget was $42 million, but i talked to him last week and he said it's more like $60 million now. who really knows, but shrek just opened with somewhere in the vicinity of $35 million behind it, so i wouldn't be surprised if this was more considering the names that are behind it and the stars they're going to pay salaries to.

Posted by: kyle in reply to plumnbagel's comment at 02/26/09 12:35 PM | Reply
Score = 0

im unsure as to whether or not this is a good or bad thing. theater is kind of a dying art, no? maybe this mediocre show could help steer people back to theater who would not have given it a thought before.

and the new U2 album....meh. it would be so much better if the vocals were a bit more buried in the mix. i think then the lackluster lyrics wouldn't stick out quite so badly. the songs are not their worst, i don't think. i love this band so much for what they were that i cannot help but hold out hope that they will someday be as creative again.

Posted by: andrew at 02/25/09 4:45 PM | Reply
Score = 0

It will never be as good as Spider-Man: From Beyond the Grave (A Rockomic!)

http://www.moviegrooves.com/shop/spidermanlp.htm

Posted by: some guy at 02/25/09 5:30 PM | Reply
Score = 0

U2 is a gay.

Posted by: ryan at 02/25/09 10:38 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Way to be productive ryan. Correct, but still. And no, I seriously doubt that news such as U2 composing for Spiderman the Musical will in any way, shape or form encourage more attendance at the theatre. In fact, if this is what I was told right before the show, I would probably head back out to the car, chalk it up as an "L." And I love Spiderman.

Posted by: ClayF

at 02/25/09 11:41 PM | Reply
Score = 1

>the Edge said, "I think the musical had its heyday back in the 40s, 50s, 60s era. I don't think there's been anything that interesting done in it since."

I wonder how many musicals the Edge has been to. It reminds me of people who haven't heard any new music in the last 15 years saying that no good music has come out since Nirvana.

But as a former fan, I currently listen to new U2 records mostly with a morbid curiosity. So the potential for disaster here makes this project oddly more appealing.

Last thought: I wonder if it will sound anything like the Edge's Captive soundtrack. Somehow I doubt it. Maybe it will be more like "Alex Descends into Hell for a Bottle of Milk".

... who am I kidding?

Posted by: peter at 02/26/09 7:44 AM | Reply
Score = 0