While the musical itself cost a reported record $75 million, Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark has been a massive hit on Broadway, taking home on average $1.3 million per week. But there is one key member of the production who hasn’t been reaping any of those rewards: original director Julie Taymor.
Taymor was rather famously booted from the production in March 2011 after the incomplete show was seemingly stuck in previews indefinitely with numerous injuries piling up for the main cast, which the producers blamed on Taymor’s dangerous choreography.
Though the show was since extensively rewritten, Taymor and the show’s producers filed lawsuits against each other — with Taymor claiming she wasn’t being compensated for her contributions and the producers claiming that Taymor would not be reasonable about making changes to the show.
But the first steps towards ending the matter have now been taken — Taymor’s union, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, has settled with the producers to compensate Taymor $9,750 a week in royalties as long as the Broadway show runs. The settlement also opens the door to productions in other cities by setting an undisclosed amount of compensation to Taymor for future runs in those markets. Reportedly, this issue was preventing a new production opening in Las Vegas.
In return, Taymor agreed to hold off on receiving additional collaborator royalties — about $4,000 per week — until the show recoups its $75 million costs (which will likely take years).
There’s no telling how the other lawsuits will play out — they are focused on Taymor’s contributions as show creator and writer as opposed to director and how she should be compensated for those roles — but now it seems like you might get to see your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man on stage outside of midtown Manhattan.