Evan Rachel Wood and Broadway's Spider-Man Part Ways

Spider-Man is in search of a new lady love. Actress Evan Rachel Wood has exited the role of Mary Jane in the much-anticipated Broadway musical Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark "due to a scheduling conflict," according to a statement from the producers. "Casting is underway to find a new Mary Jane to join the rest of the cast in the production. Spider-Man will announce a new timeline shortly." Director Julie Taymor told reporters at opening night for A Behanding in Spokane that her eagerly awaited production is on track to open at the Hilton Theatre in fall 2010.

Still confirmed for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark are Reeve Carney as Peter Parker and Alan Cumming as Norman Osborn (aka the Green Goblin). With a score by U2's Bono and The Edge, the musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down—literally—when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. Suddenly endowed with astonishing powers, this bullied science geek soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character.