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U2’s “Spider-Man” Musical to Star Evan Rachel Wood, Alan Cumming

6/26/09, 3:37 pm EST

Photo: Parra/FilmMagic(Bono), Honda/AFP/Getty (Spiderman), Walker/Getty(Wood), Ward/WireImage(Cumming)
Evan Rachel Wood appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon yesterday and chatted about her upcoming role as Mary Jane Watson in Bono and the Edge’s Spider-Man musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. “It’s unlike any Spider-Man you’ve ever seen,” she said. “Bono and the Edge are doing the music. It was hysterical, I got to do the workshop, sit down with them playing guitars going over the music, and I was making jokes going, watch by the end of this, I’ll be telling them what to do. And by the end I was! I was like, Bono, I know you want to save the world and everything, but in this song you’re talking about poverty and world hunger and it’s Broadway, can we lighten this up a bit, can I just not sing this? And he was like, [in Irish accent] ‘You’re right, I know, we have to try, we have to try.’ ”

Today a press release confirmed Alan Cumming has also joined the production as Norman Osborn, better known as the Green Goblin. Both Wood and Cumming have previously worked with director Julie Taymor, who is known worldwide for her adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. Wood appeared in Beatles-inspired film Across the Universe, and Taymor directed two of Cumming’s film projects.

“The process of obtaining all the necessary state and city building permits, and landmark approvals to prepare the Hilton Theatre for a production the size and scope of Spider-Man has taken longer than anyone expected,” David Garfinkle and Martin McCallum noted on behalf of the production team, “but we now have everything that is required to bring this visually powerful show to Broadway next Spring.”

More cast members will be announced at a later date. Previews kick off on February 25th, and American Express cardholders can nab tickets now via Ticketmaster, while the general public onsale starts September 12th.


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Comments

Hellz Yeah | 6/26/2009, 4:48 pm EST

This is going to be on like Donkey Kong.

Beavis and Butthead | 6/26/2009, 4:58 pm EST

WOOD….CUMMING…..HEHE

Denton | 6/26/2009, 4:58 pm EST

This is the stupidest idea in history. This will KILL U2. Just because Paul Simon almost ruined his career with a failed musical, doesn’t mean you have to, too, u2.

News Flash | 6/26/2009, 5:11 pm EST

Denton, if U2 ain’t dead by now, NOTHING will kill em. This is gonna be pretty epic.

Lolwut? | 6/26/2009, 6:00 pm EST

I think this is going to Fail to a level not witnessed since the dawn of man. Seriously, WTF???

kj | 6/26/2009, 6:14 pm EST

bono is a retard…..he really believes he is bigger than life and that anything he does is magical……wrong. welcome to reality my friend…….this is going to tank and hopefully u2 to follow?

Jmac | 6/26/2009, 6:41 pm EST

Well you know it might be good or it might be terrible. If Bono wants to spend his capital on this, it is his choice. Personally I will save my money to buy Adam Lambert’s CD in the fall :-)

Anonymous | 6/26/2009, 7:19 pm EST

Here’s a novel idea…

Wait and judge the finished project for yourself.

Stop rushing to instant conclusions.

It may be an amazing show, for all we know.

Eddie | 6/26/2009, 9:38 pm EST

This is stupid…what the hell is Bono thinking?

Bono,(or should I say your holiness?) do us all a favor and go fuck yourself

Bob Rock | 6/27/2009, 12:03 am EST

U2 is becoming its own parody. From credible rock band to ego/money hungry corporation of middle aged men(Adam, Larry excused, at least they keep old guard). They “outperformed” Rolling Stones.
Next… Prepare your masks for the concert. Ready, get set, put them on…Walk on… Monty Python’s Flying Circus… That’s what we’ve become…

crazy8 | 6/27/2009, 8:02 am EST

U2’s new album was terrible and survived. They have been around forever and no matter who big of a success or failure this production is nothing can take from what they put out. Just look at Michael Jackson, he dies and of a sudden people are jamming his music and watching his videos again. Great music is timeless.

Jack | 6/27/2009, 10:08 am EST

First of all,it is a Julie Taymor project…stop postig headlines that make t seem like this was the brainchild of U2
Secondly Bono and Edge wrote the music for it…that is only 1/2 of U2 that does not make it A “U2 project” only a show that has Bono and The Edge writing music for it

Anonymous | 6/27/2009, 10:51 am EST

The marquee will read:

WOOD / CUMMING.

Too funny!

cmanskar | 6/27/2009, 11:43 am EST

why is everyone being so negative about everything? give it a rest!! dont go fucking see it or comment on it if you dont like it. shit!!

Mike | 6/27/2009, 2:40 pm EST

CRAZY 8 YOU ARE AN IDIOT
NO LINE ON THE HORIZON WAS U2′S BEST ALBUM THIS DECADE
THE LAST WAS TERRIBLE,NOT THIS ONE

Da Troof | 6/27/2009, 3:25 pm EST

Mike=truth.
Crazy 8=not truth.

Da Troof | 6/27/2009, 3:26 pm EST

Bob Rock=delusional.

Bob Rock | 6/27/2009, 5:11 pm EST

Check it out and then tell me who is delusional.
http://www.u2.com/stream /article/display/id/4753

Peter Parker | 6/27/2009, 10:36 pm EST

Uh oh… my spider sense is tingling… I kinda sense a very sucky musical coming along.

Ghost of Michael Jackson | 6/27/2009, 10:39 pm EST

Yeee Heee Heee. Whatcha doing here. This article ain’t about me. The King of Pop died Rolling Stone. People want to read about me, not no U2 and Spiderman.

insider | 6/27/2009, 10:51 pm EST

I’ve heard some of the music. It is beyond amazing. I grew up loving U2, but this is beyond that. This will be thier Sergent Pepper’s. Paul Simon’s show didn’t have much in it but his music. This is a play about pain, life in the city, love, desire. Jokes about bush weren’t as funny as jokes about Clit-on cause they weren’t as true. Make wood and cum jokes bc/ this is sexy and thrilling. It will also have amazing special effects and acrobatics. It won’t be a show. It will be an experience.

Anonymous | 6/27/2009, 11:15 pm EST

Wood + Cumming = funny.

Loranger | 6/28/2009, 2:55 am EST

U2 have become a complete joke. Time Bono took the morphine sleep

Pam Bonamusica | 6/28/2009, 6:31 am EST

As Anonymous has already said, we shouldn´t judge this project before we haven´t heard it. I don´t see any problem in the idea that Bono and The Edge do this musical. This can be a suitable genre for U2, because their music has something theatrical. U2 have always had their side projects and this is great in my view. They want to make something different and they want more than just the ordinary album-tour-album-tour-routine. They still have the motivation to take risks and new musical challenges. What´s so bad about this?

Pam | 6/28/2009, 7:49 am EST

I´ve already sent a comment before. It´s not there, sometimes the comments disappear and appear again later or not. But this is not important anyway…Loranger, I realized the meaning of your words too late. What do you want to say with “morphine sleep”? Do you realize what you are saying here???Do you want that the same happens to Bono what happened to Michael Jackson??? Are you crazy?!!!

Anonymous | 6/28/2009, 8:52 am EST

Wood, Cumming, and Boner, er.. Bono

mary | 6/28/2009, 1:46 pm EST

why are all the losers on this site using the word retard? ugh. go back to middle school.

mei | 6/28/2009, 2:12 pm EST

buncha hasbeens

Amit Porecki | 6/28/2009, 5:11 pm EST

if Jimi Hendrix is the 1st so Eric Clapton is the 2nd Jimmy PAge Is The 3rd and brain may is 4th and Slash is 5th!

aNON | 6/28/2009, 6:15 pm EST

im gonna check this page every day and see how many times i can read the stupid ass wood cumming joke.. i didnt know little kids even read rolling stone

jennifer | 6/28/2009, 6:58 pm EST

What are they thinkingggggggg??

Anonymous | 6/28/2009, 10:33 pm EST

Man Wood Cumming Boner

kj | 6/28/2009, 11:24 pm EST

retard, retard, retard……wow that felt amazing!

TuttiFrutti | 6/29/2009, 5:43 am EST

How old are you? You all sound like a bunch of 12-year-olds. Let me tell you something about being relevant. Relevant is not about age, and as far as I can see, that’s what most of you use as your measuring stick. As U2 ages, they may be not be relevant to you, but they sure as hell are relevant to me. I was listening to U2 before you were born. Their body of work has evolved as they have aged. We’re light years ahead of you. Enjoy your American Idol, but I bet NONE of them will end up in the RnR Hall of Fame. Puh-leeze! As for Bono being everywhere, I think it’s terrific if you can stay engaged and excited about your work. Bono has used his fame and money to bring many good causes to light. It was the Live Aid concerts that brought U2 to the attention of the world. They have always been political, and there is no reason to stop now. Now get off the board all of you haters unless you have something constructive to share.

Regal | 6/29/2009, 5:49 am EST

Some of you need to take a look at what you’ve written here and get a grip. Seriously, you’re OFFENDED about a pair of rock stars writing music for a Broadway version of a superhero comic. You honestly believe that’s a sign of conceit. You are calling people retards and swearing over a writing project for a musical. Try to get back to reality soon, alright?

Anonymous | 6/29/2009, 10:30 am EST

Retarded Wood Cumming Boner

Boners4Bono | 6/29/2009, 12:37 pm EST

What’s wrong with getting a Bono_er, waxing your wood and Cumming? Most of us do it everyday, that means U2!! You know who you are ;-)

JamesOtto | 6/29/2009, 2:17 pm EST

This is such an unbelievably bad idea. It’s the bi-product of Sony owning most of the rights to this character. If Marvel had complete ownership, there’s no way this would happen.

Man who has an IQ above 90 | 6/29/2009, 4:15 pm EST

Rolling Stone has some dumb readers. This is a side project for U2. They do this and produce a five star album like No-Line, as well as the fastest selling, most expensive tour in history! p.s – their last album won more grammys then Thriller, how was it a failure stupid?

Roger Dodger | 6/29/2009, 4:20 pm EST

The stuff they’ve written for films has always been good. In The Name of The Father, Batman etc.. The success of the show will depend more on the writing and production. p.s – I got the new album the other day and I agree, it’s their best since Achtung Baby. They are showing amazing ambition.

Loranger | 7/1/2009, 7:24 am EST

Bono is a fat, bloated corperate whore and a phoney. Yes, I wish he would do the world a favour and take that Morphine Sleep

BustaNut | 7/1/2009, 3:18 pm EST

Thriller won 8 Grammys in one night, how many did Utube win theri last album? Van never beat Thriller.

BustaNut | 7/1/2009, 3:20 pm EST

Thriller won 8 Grammys in one night, how many did Utube win in their last album? Can never beat Thriller.

Pam | 7/2/2009, 7:26 am EST

Loranger, do the world a favour and NEVER write the awful thing with the “morphine sleep” again! You can hate as much as you want, but what you are doing goes definitely TOO FAR! In general I always try to accept the haters the way they are. But in your case I can only say: YOU ARE TRULY INSANE!!!

Molly H | 7/2/2009, 2:16 pm EST

Well, I personally think that this is a very risky idea. Not necesarily a bad one, just very very risky. It could turn out to be an enjoyable show, or it could be ridiculously stupid and drawn out (ahem, spider-man 3…). Look- if Bono wants to use his power in the music industry to create a musical, so be it. Remember, even if it bombs, he’ll still be insanely wealthy. But in this time of recession, I’ll be saving my money for more important things (the Rob Thomas tour, for instance. Lol).

Doc | 7/5/2009, 5:20 pm EST

wow bono in tights come on now that has to be the last thing i need to hear. What’s up with musicals anyway. The last musical i think i liked was grease ( the original only ) there haven’t been very many after that. I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.

helena | 7/8/2009, 10:14 pm EST

this is so funny… I’m sure U2 is really worried… Certainly, by all evidence, they have such poor, boring, limited and intelectually deprived lives they get on line whenever possible just to know what people like Loranger have to say about them on a comments page

DickTraceyInformant | 7/10/2009, 11:16 am EST

Retard is a cool word to say. and Cumming is a cool thing to do. Rolling Stone is all about cool things people do and say. IM A ROCKSTAR

Octoberholiday | 7/13/2009, 2:01 pm EST

I’m actually looking forward to this one. I’m a huge fan of most everyone involved, especially Alan Cumming. There are a lot of good minds working on this, and I’m really excited. This sounds like it’s going to be brilliant.

Octoberholiday | 7/13/2009, 2:12 pm EST

Oh, and can we please quick the wood/cumming/whatever jokes? It gets a bit old when most of us commenting about it.

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