Cohl Producing ‘Spider-Man’

Former chairman of Live Nation Michael Cohl has a new role on Broadway as the lead producer of the upcoming musical “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark.”

Cohl, who previously co-produced on Broadway’s “Spamalot,” had invested in the troubled “Spider-Man,” but was apparently talked into taking the reins on the production by U2’s Bono and the Edge, who wrote the score for the show, according to the New York Times.

“I was on my honeymoon in Spain in late August and they called and said, ‘C’mon, think about it,’” Cohl told the Times.

“Spider-Man” faced delays during the summer over financial woes, however with Cohl now at the helm, the musical, which reportedly tops $40 million, is expected to secure additional financing and open sometime in 2010.

While Cohl wouldn’t confirm to the paper the exactly dollar amount budgeted for the production, he said “Spider-Man” was “very close to having in place the financing that we need and getting everyone back to work on the musical.”

And after all, building a successful team can come with a hefty price tag, he added, referencing the New York Yankee’s recent World Series win.

“Today we have a team in New York that spent millions of dollars to win a championship,” Cohl said. “Sometimes it takes a lot of money to build a championship team, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Former lead producer David Garfinkle is still on board, the paper noted, and PRG has become second producer of the show.

Actor and musician Reeve Carney, who heads up the band Carney, has signed on for the role of Peter Parker.

The musical’s production team includes some of the creative forces behind Broadway’s “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid,” as well as Cirque du Soleil.