By Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The mishap-plagued "Spider-Man" musical has lost its controversial director, Julie Taymor, according to the New York Daily News.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that producers of the beleaguered Broadway show, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," asked Taymor to step down or expand her creative team in the wake of unmercifully negative reviews last month.
Now a source tells the News, "Taymor is out. She's left the building."
It was unclear whether Taymor quit or was fired.
Both the Times and the News reported that the changes would force the show to shut down for two or three weeks, further delaying the official opening date by at least three months. The show has been in previews since November.
Among the problems that have affected the show have been injuries to actors and stunt men, including a 30-foot plunge by stunt man Christopher Tierney during a preview show in December. He was the fourth person associated with the show to have been hurt.
The cost of the show, already the most expensive in Broadway history, is estimated to have reached $70 million, with as much as $5 million in additional expenses on the way, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Despite a promising start at the box office, the Journal noted that attendance had begun to decline for preview performances of the show, which features music by U2's Bono and The Edge.
The Foxwoods Theatre was at 84 percent capacity last week, which the Journal identified as its lowest turnout yet.
