RIEDEL: Spider-Man "The Biggest Fiasco in Broadway History" SHOW is OFF.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:06am

RIEDEL: Actors released from their contracts. Production Shut down. Weekly Running cost of $900,000. This Show is now OFF.





'SPIDER-MAN' A NO-SHOW

Updated On: 8/12/09 at 11:06 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:08am

Link didn't work for me.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:14am

Fixed!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:17am

REIDEL has 'confirmed' things that aren't true, before. He 'confirmed' that HAIR was going to play at the Neil Simon, and it ended up going to the ole Hirschy.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:22am

Well it doesn't take an idiot to see a 45 million dollar musical would take 5 years to recoup. The studios have pulled back their financing completely. This is just how Hollywood feels about Broadway. Wishful thinking, if you you're hoping this show will continue. And I'm one of the wishful ones, but sooner or later we'll have to get over it.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:23am

"This is just how Hollywood feels about Broadway."

What??

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:23am

I, too, am one of the 'wishful' ones...but Michael Riedel has never been a very accurate source. I kind of find it hard to believe that these studios would fund all of this money and just back out.

Updated On: 8/12/09 at 11:23 AM

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:27am

It could well be that by shutting down now, there's a reasonable manageable tax write-off, but continuing could be a financial disaster. Maybe Max Bialystock could explain ....

[CateBroadway]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 11:54am

Regardless of if the shut down is true or not, it sadly does seem an impractical show. It would take 10 years for that show to recoup! I feel awful for all the talented actors and crew involved in it. Still sending good vibes towards them finding a way. I've still got a will.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:06pm

I kind of find it hard to believe that these studios would fund all of this money and just back out.

They could if they signed up for a certain amount of money and then watched the budget surpass what they, orginally, agreed to.

Also, they know that a lot of people are waiting for them to fail. Earlier this week Howard Stern was mocking the fact that the show was coming. When you have the attention of people like Stern it might be time to think about what you're getting into.

Finally, a movie can recoup in a single weekend. By this point I doubt any of them are willing to wait for Spider-Man to recoup.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:30pm

"But when it comes to the greatest supervillain of them all -- The Rieder"

What an ego, what an a$$.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:35pm

Lets all blame Riedel for the failure of this show! Obviously the business plan was perfect.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:40pm

SPIDER MAN not a success? HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN????????

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:41pm

Now it will only exist in my heart

[i am the one]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:44pm

I wonder how many Band-Aids it will take to put the Hilton back together now...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:47pm

I wonder how many Band-Aids it will take to put the Hilton back together now...

Maybe Shrek will let them borrow all the king's horses and all the king's men

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:52pm

Wait, I gotta get in one more. Here's my Mia Farrow in ROSEMARY'S BABY:


NOOOOOOO! IT CAN'T BEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Updated On: 8/12/09 at 12:52 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:53pm

What actors were on contract?
Did they announce a cast other than Wood and Cummings?

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:55pm

".but Michael Riedel has never been a very accurate source."

Yes, he has.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:57pm

It would take longer than 10 years! To run the show for a year would take almost $52 million! Thats more than the initial investment they need to earn back. Even if this is a hit, it will be a feat just to get in the green.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:57pm

:: clap clap clap!:: now do, "WHAT HAY YOU DONE TO HIS EYES?!" Borstel

[BwayTday]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 1:01pm

so... how much money was already put into it?

[tazber]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 1:02pm

Rosemary's Baby - The Musical!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 1:05pm

Thank you, LJay. I don't know what AllThatJazz means by saying that Riedel is not an accurate source. He may be mean-spirited, acerbic, an egomaniac, and hateful at times but his reports are almost always true.
He first mentioned the possibility of a play starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig long before it was announced. He is the first one who said that Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, and Jeff Daniels were in talks to star in the Broadway transfer of GOD OF CARNAGE (months later all four were officially announced). He first broke the news about 9 TO 5's closing. He also mentioned that YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN dropped the St.James (where everyone thought Brooks would open his new show) to get the Hilton instead. Later, he said that SPIDERMAN was set on that theatre. And even on the SPIDERMAN front, he is the one who first talked about Alan Cumming being in talks to play Green Goblin.
Of course a lot of the negotiations he reports on fall through, and I'm sure at times some of his gossip is just gossip, but to say that he has "never been an accurate source" is just not true.
Having said all that, I do not get what his vicious attacks to this show from day one have been about. I think it could have been a great theatrical experience (or not), especially with Taymor involved. Oh well.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 1:17pm

If this is true, then bring "The War Horse" to the Hilton.