Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
barcelona20
Broadway Star Joined: 1/19/08
#1Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 2:38pm
Has another production anywhere been attempted? Are the rights even available? I looked online and couldn't find them anywhere.
#2Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 2:41pm
As far as I'm aware, the answer to both of your questions is "no" - but open to being corrected.
#3Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 3:37pm
I imagine Disney owns it now?
I still think 2.0 could have done well on the road. They could have scaled it down to something more realistic budget wise and just told the story without all the overhead audience flight sequences or limited the overhead flight to the act one finale with a much simpler stunt utilizing the rigs already in place in most venues for Cathy Rigby's overhead flight.
#4Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 3:51pm
CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least.
barcelona20
Broadway Star Joined: 1/19/08
#5Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 4:34pm
Hmm good questions. I just don't understand why they are keeping the rights to themselves. I figure at least community theater or colleges would love to give it a try. I'm in the minority but I enjoy most of the music from the show.
perfectliar
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#6Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 5:28pm
JBroadway said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least."
Disney owns Marvel Entertainment and has since 2009, which I would assume is why CATSNY thought they would own the musical (the character was licensed to producers but Marvel didn't contribute financially, according to Variety). Only the producers would likely know how much longer the license lasts (if it hasn't expired already), and after that point, ownership of the musical would likely revert to Marvel, right? If that's the case, it's no wonder we haven't heard of it since it closed in 2014: Marvel has its own brand of touring shows and now plays available to license, and they have full control over those and never did of Spider-Man.
#7Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 5:46pm
perfectliar said: "JBroadway said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least."
Disney owns Marvel Entertainment and has since 2009, which I would assume is why CATSNY thought they would own the musical (the character was licensed to producers but Marvel didn't contribute financially, according to Variety). Only the producers would likely know how much longer the license lasts (if it hasn't expired already), and after that point, ownership of the musical would likely revert to Marvel, right? If that's the case, it's no wonder we haven't heard of it since it closed in 2014: Marvel has its own brand of touring shows and now plays available to license, and they have full control over those and never did of Spider-Man."
So I'm confused--can you tell I'm not a lawyer?
Though Disney/Marvell didn't write, stage or finance the show, the show belongs entirely to them? Not whomever wrote it or produced it? That sounds really weird. I can understand they might have leased the characters, so any future production would have to get their permission in part to move forward. But they really own it all? I don't think DC has that kind of control over It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (granted, that contract would have been written up more than half a century ago).
Impossible2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
#8Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 6:31pm
perfectliar said: "JBroadway said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least."
Disney owns Marvel Entertainment and has since 2009, which I would assume is why CATSNY thought they would own the musical (the character was licensed to producers but Marvel didn't contribute financially, according to Variety). Only the producers would likely know how much longer the license lasts (if it hasn't expired already), and after that point, ownership of the musical would likely revert to Marvel, right? If that's the case, it's no wonder we haven't heard of it since it closed in 2014: Marvel has its own brand of touring shows and now plays available to license, and they have full control over those and never did of Spider-Man."
Sony owns the rights to the Spider-Man character.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#9Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 7:25pm
Impossible2 said: "perfectliar said: "JBroadway said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least."
Disney owns Marvel Entertainment and has since 2009, which I would assume is why CATSNY thought they would own the musical (the character was licensed to producers but Marvel didn't contribute financially, according to Variety). Only the producers would likely know how much longer the license lasts (if it hasn't expired already), and after that point, ownership of the musical would likely revert to Marvel, right? If that's the case, it's no wonder we haven't heard of it since it closed in 2014: Marvel has its own brand of touring shows and now plays available to license, and they have full control over those and never did of Spider-Man."
Sonyowns the rightsto the Spider-Man character."
Sony does not own Spider-Man. Sony has/owns certain production rights pursuant to contract. The contract will specify how long Sony keeps those rights.
perfectliar
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#10Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 7:26pm
Impossible2 said: "Sonyowns the rightsto the Spider-Man character."
Just for film, I think.
Impossible2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
#11Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 7:28pm
ggersten said: "Impossible2 said: "perfectliar said: "JBroadway said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I imagine Disney owns it now?"
Why would Disney own it?
Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man (hence, the recent debacle with the deal between Disney and Sony).
And I was going to say, even if Disney did own the film rights, those would probably be separate from the stage-rights given that the musical isn't based on the films. However, I see now that Sony did co-produce the musical, so there is some connection there at least."
Disney owns Marvel Entertainment and has since 2009, which I would assume is why CATSNY thought they would own the musical (the character was licensed to producers but Marvel didn't contribute financially, according to Variety). Only the producers would likely know how much longer the license lasts (if it hasn't expired already), and after that point, ownership of the musical would likely revert to Marvel, right? If that's the case, it's no wonder we haven't heard of it since it closed in 2014: Marvel has its own brand of touring shows and now plays available to license, and they have full control over those and never did of Spider-Man."
Sonyowns the rightsto the Spider-Man character."
Sony does not own Spider-Man. Sony has/ownscertain production rights pursuant to contract. The contract will specify how long Sony keeps those rights."
So exactly just what I said. Sony currently owns the rights to the Spider-Man character.
#12Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 7:43pmUmm, if anything they have leased the rights, they still don't own it
Darreyl with an L!
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#13Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 7:51pm
Impossible2 said: "Sony owns the rights to the Spider-Man character."
No, Sony doesn't. Marvel only sold the film rights to Sony. This is pretty typical. Harry Potter's film rights were sold to Warner Brothers, but JK Rowling retained the stage rights until she sold them to, I assume, Jack Thorn or Sonia Friedman. She sold the theme park rights to Universal. When Disney purchased Marvel, they had to buy back the rights from the other studios; Sony was the lone holdout.
Marvel actually sold the stage rights separately to Tony Adams, upon whose death were then held by his producing partner David Garfinkle. Unless there was a clause that transfers the rights back to Marvel under certain conditions, he presumably owns the rights until he sells them.
Impossible2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
#14Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 8:17pm
Fosse76 said: "Impossible2 said: "Sony owns the rights to the Spider-Man character."
No, Sony doesn't. Marvel only sold the film rights to Sony. This is pretty typical. Harry Potter's film rights were sold to Warner Brothers, but JK Rowling retained the stage rights until she sold them to, I assume, Jack Thorn or Sonia Friedman. She sold the theme park rights to Universal. When Disney purchased Marvel, they had to buy back the rights from the other studios; Sony was the lone holdout.
Marvel actually sold the stage rights separately to Tony Adams, upon whose death were then held by his producing partner David Garfinkle. Unless there was a clause that transfers the rights back to Marvel under certain conditions, he presumably owns the rights until he sells them."
Thank you for your correct answer instead of **** above it x
#15Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 8:30pm
*maniacal Disney villain laughter*
Darreyl with an L!
Updated On: 8/28/19 at 08:30 PM
Impossible2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
#16Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 8:32pm
darreyl102 said: "*maniacal Disney villain laughter*"
#18Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 10:41pm
JBroadway said: "Why would Disney own it?"
I apologize for the confusion. I just assumed since Disney bought Marvel they would own everything Spider-Man.
barcelona20
Broadway Star Joined: 1/19/08
#19Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 11:22pmSo assuming the rights are not owned by a giant corporation, why do you think they still aren't available for any other productions? Wouldn't they make back some money?
#20Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/28/19 at 11:42pm
This show has regional train wreck written all over it...
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#21Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/29/19 at 1:19pm
haterobics said: "This show has regional train wreck written all over it..."
I would absolutely go see any regional production of this just to see how bad it would be lol
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#22Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/29/19 at 1:45pm
I highly doubt that any other theatre in their right minds would attempt a production - regional, college, community, or otherwise. It's a technical nightmare. It would never work. Besides the technical issues, it's also just not that good of a show.
#23Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/29/19 at 1:57pm
I would love to see a production that deliberately embraces the opposite extreme:
Performed in a dingy blackbox, some crappy Halloween-costumes and masks for all of the characters, silly string for webs, standing on a chair to simulate flying, etc. Also, all characters are played by like 5 or 6 actors.
Not unlike the "99 Cent Miss Saigon" that Dave Malloy worked on some years ago before he was well-known: https://www.davemalloy.com/saigon.html
Hell, if the rights became available, I might do this myself!
#24Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/29/19 at 2:06pm
I COULD have seen that Miss Saigon in Berkeley but I chose to see Spelling Bee instead. Ha!
I'm actually surprised a theatre in Germany hasn't tried Spider-Man yet. Maybe they just can't. But imagine Uwe Kroger as The Green Goblin.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
TravisOKC
Understudy Joined: 12/14/15
#25Spiderman Turn Off the Dark
Posted: 8/29/19 at 2:33pm
I think Spiderman Turn Off The Dark could do really well as an arena tour.
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