# Comic Books on Broadway ‘Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark' Brings Superheroes to Life By Christina Butty | Published 2009-06-30 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiderman-musical References: [cbc](http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2009/06/29/musical-spiderman-casting.html) & [spidermanonbroadway.marvel](http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/) Debuting at the Hilton Theatre in February 2010 is a new 'Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark' musical. While this may seem like a risky idea, many top [Hollywood](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meta-hollywood) names are agreeing to be in the cast, such as Evan Rachel Wood, who will play Mary Jane, and Alan Cumming, who will play Harvey Oswald (a.k.a the [Green Goblin](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/green-goblin-colorway)). It will be interesting to see how this means of telling the [classic comic book stories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-and-disney) turns out. **Implications** - DIG DEEPER INTO GEEK CHIC. WHY NOW? The explosion in popularity of comic books has signalled the start of a pattern of geeky franchises crossing into mainstream success. Businesses should exploit the growing cultural interest in comic books, video games and other so-called geeky enterprises. By associating one's brand with these burgeoning hobbies, companies can expect the attention of the budding demographic of nerds. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Geek Culture Crossover:** The rise in popularity of comic books and other 'geeky' franchises is creating opportunities for businesses to associate their brands with these hobbies, attracting the growing demographic of nerds. - **Live-action Adaptations:** Producing live-action adaptations of comic book characters and stories is a disruptive innovation opportunity for the entertainment industry, as seen in the success of 'Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark' musical. - **Collaborations with Hollywood:** Partnering with Hollywood names to be part of productions can be a strategy for businesses in the entertainment industry to attract audiences and increase exposure. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Entertainment:** Producing live-action adaptations of comic book characters and stories can strengthen the industry's appeal and open up new revenue streams. - **Fashion and Merchandise:** The rise of comic book popularity can lead to opportunities for businesses to create merchandise and fashion lines related to popular characters and franchises, and tap into a growing fanbase. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Businesses can leverage the cultural interest in comic books and video games to create marketing and advertising campaigns that resonate with their target audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Upcoming Dark Superhero Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiderman-noir.md) - [Meme-Themed Cartoon Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spider-man-no-way-home.md) - [Retro Comic-Book Style Animations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/your-friendly-neighborhood-spiderman.md) - [Comic Book Hero Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comic-book-heros.md) - [Superhero-Themed Clogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiderman-x-crocs.md) - [3D Superhero Block-Puzzle Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazing-spiderman-set.md) - [Superhero Dramatic Game Trailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiderman-2-game.md) - [Superhero-Inspired Comic Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-collection.md) - [Comic-Themed QSR Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiderverse-whopper.md)