‘Spider-Man’ legal dispute settled
Julie Taymor, former director of the musical 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'. Photograph: Danny Moloshok/ReutersJulie Taymor, former director of the musical 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'. Photograph: Danny Moloshok/Reuters
The producers of Broadway’s Spider-Man musical and former show director Julie Taymor have settled their legal dispute.
The producers of the show, written by U2′s Bono and The Edge, and a trade association representing Taymor had been in dispute over her firing and breach of contract claims.
Under the agreement, announced by the parties today, Taymor will receive full royalty fees for her services as a director through the show’s duration, as well as some fees toward her work as a collaborator.
Producers at 8 Legged Productions and the Stage Directors and Choreographers’ Society (SCD), which represents Broadway directors and other professionals, also agreed Taymor’s services as a collaborator on the project were completed and she has no further involvement in the show.
“The litigation between us is over, and we are hopeful that any remaining issues between the producer and Ms Taymor regarding her role as author can also be resolved to the satisfaction of all,” said Karen Azenberg, president of the SDC, in a statement today.
Tony-winning The Lion King director Taymor worked on the original book for the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical, before being fired from the production in March 2011.
She filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Spider-Man producers last year, saying they made “unauthorized and unlawful use” of her written works.
Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris, producers of the show, filed a counter-suit against Taymor last month, accusing her of jeopardising the production of the show by “developing a dark, disjointed and hallucinogenic musical.”
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark had a rocky start with cast injuries and opening night delays, but since then has been steadily packing in audiences on Broadway, making a record-setting $2.9 million (€2.2 million) from Christmas to New Year’s Day, according to figures from industry website The Broadway League.
Based on one of Marvel Comic’s most famous heroes, the Broadway production cost more than $70 million to bring to the stage with music by Bono and The Edge, and was reworked after Taymor was fired.
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