U2 stars defend Spider-man director as she is replaced by Circus master

Bono and the Edge have leapt to the defense of Julie Taymor, the talented Broadway director who has stepped aside from her role in Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark.

“Julie is a truly gifted and imaginative director,” the U2 pair said in a statement, after Taymor  was replaced on the show, which was due to open next week, but has now been delayed for a remarkable sixth time.

Taymor was the creative genius behind the smash-hit The Lion King but reports say she clashed with producers who were looking for wholesale changes to the Spiderman musical after it was thrashed by critics.

Bono and the Edge are to remain involved in the $65m production, which critics are branding Broadway’s biggest ever flop. The duo have written several new songs which they hope to insert into the production, which is now being driven by a totally new creative team.

“This is an epic ride,” they said, “and the standing ovations we have seen from the preview audiences have confirmed our absolute faith in the project. We are listening and learning and, as a result, we have a couple of new songs we are very very excited about putting into the mix.

“All of us on the creative team are committed to taking Spiderman to the next level. We are confident it will reach its full potential and when it does, it will open.”

Spiderman has now been in previews longer than any other show in history, and will continue to undergo changes until the summer.

Producers have appointed Phillip McKinley as the new director, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to help rewrite the book.

McKinley’s only previous Broadway experience was a 2003 musical called The Boy from Oz which starred Hugh Jackman.

Some have questioned his credentials, but perhaps aptly, he is a former circus director with Barnum and Bailey, and Ringling Bros.

Aguirre-Sacasa is an acclaimed playwright, and a well known writer of Spiderman comic books.

The expanded creative team also includes musical consultant Paul Bogaev  and sound designer Peter Hylenski. 

Producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J Harris paid tribute to Taymor, saying her vision had been at the heart of the production and would continue to do so.

“We cannot exaggerate how technically difficult it is to make such changes to a show of this complexity,” they said.

The new summer opening date means Spiderman is no longer eligible for consideration for the industry’s Tony Awards this year. Spiderman remains among Broadway’s highest grossing productions, despite the nightmarish production problems and scathing reviews.