Spider-Man Andrew Garfield Does Drag In New Arcade Fire Clip For We Exist

Via Rolling Stone:

Amazing Spider-Man 2 star Andrew Garfield plays a whole different kind of superhero in Arcade Fire's inspirational (and psychedelic) video for "We Exist." Dressing in a woman's wig and short jean shorts, Garfield's character heads down to a local bar, where he defends himself against a hoard of violent drunks – and embraces his destiny. Overall, the video's message of self-empowerment and equality is a perfect match for Win Butler's lyrics and the track's throbbing synth-rock arrangement. In a press release, Butler describes the track as "about a gay kid talking to his dad" and coming out to his straight father, and he's introduced the song onstage (including at the band's Coachella set last month, during which the video's live footage was shot) by saying, "The right to marry anyone you want is a human rights issue."

Watch the full clip.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

TRAILER: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Opening April 16th.

The Theme Park Called Broadway

Broadway's Spider-Man is photographing the audience during aerial stunts and inviting people to tag themselves on Facebook. Gothamist is appalled:

For years people have been publicly complaining that Times Square was turning into Disneyland, and now the transformation is complete. You know how you can get your picture taken as you ride Splash Mountain? Well, now you can do the same thing on Broadway! Thank you Disney for this horrifying new development in live theater.

George Takei Auditions For Spider-Man

(Source)

NYT Slams Spider-Man Musical

The New York Times' Ben Brantley has finally reviewed Spider-Man and yeeowtch, it isn't pretty.

The sheer ineptitude of this show, inspired by the Spider-Man comic books, loses its shock value early. After 15 or 20 minutes, the central question you keep asking yourself is likely to change from “How can $65 million look so cheap?” to “How long before I’m out of here?” Directed by Julie Taymor, who wrote the show’s book with Glen Berger, and featuring songs by U2’s Bono and the Edge, “Spider-Man” is not only the most expensive musical ever to hit Broadway; it may also rank among the worst.

The Times and other major papers typically don't review Broadway shows until the end of their preview periods so that readers will see the final version being written about. But with the endless delays in an official opening date for Spider-Man, the Times finally gave up.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

Broadway Friday

- Spider-Man lead Natalie Mendoza is permanently leaving the accident-plagued show, citing continuing dizziness from a concussion suffered during the first preview. In other incidents, one actor broke both his wrists, another broke both his ankles. Mendoza's replacement has not been announced. The show continues in previews towards a February 7th official opening.

- Tony nominee John Leguizamo's new solo show, Ghetto Klown, begins previews at the Lyceum on February 21st for a 12-week limited run.

- Andrew Lloyd Weber will launch a U.S. reality show search for the lead in his stateside production of The Wizard Of Oz. His West End production opens in February with added numbers by Weber and his longtime collaborator Tim Rice.

- Women On The Verge will close three weeks early this Sunday.

-Well-known Manhattan cabaret singer David Gurland suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage on Wednesday. Gurland is a frequent performer at The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama.

- Billy Crudup and Raul Esparza will star in the revival of Tom Stoppard's stage comedy, Arcadia, which begins a limited run on February 25th.

- The creators of South Park come to Broadway on March 24th with their musical look at the founding of the Mormon Church, The Book Of Mormon.

- Sunday's blizzard did a number on Broadway attendance, with even tickets for the eternally sold out Wicked coming available at the last minute. Still, a number of houses did record-breaking business for the holiday week.

- Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Les Miz) will star with the NYC Gay Men's Chorus at their gala fundraiser on February 28th.

SuperPEBO

Spider-Man fan Barack Obama has become one of the few real-life people to be featured in a major comic book series.

In a growing world of Barack Obama collectibles, one item soon may be swinging above the rest. On Jan. 14, Marvel Comics is releasing a special issue of Amazing Spider-Man #583 with Obama depicted on the cover. Inside are five pages of the two teaming up and even a fist-bump between Spidey and the new president.

"It was a natural after we learned the new president is a Spider-Man fan," says Marvel editor in chief Joe Quesada about reports that Obama once collected Spider-Man comics. "We thought, 'Fantastic! We have a comic-book geek in the White House.' "

The White House transition team did not respond to a question about the extent of Obama's comic-book geekiness, but Obama did mention Spider-Man during the campaign, primarily at children-oriented events. And during an Entertainment Weekly pop culture survey, Obama said Batman and Spider-Man were his top superheroes because of their "inner turmoil." (John McCain picked Batman.)

The issue is expected to sell out and become a collectible, but it probably won't be super valuable except for the lucky few whose copies Obama may sign. Many presidents have appeared in comics before, most notably when DC Comics was embarrassed when their issue featuring JFK hit the stands one week after his assassination.